Three-year-old pacing miss Born With A Grin capitalized off an early speed duel by the favoured fillies to pull off a 19-1 upset in the $55,400 Alberta Diamond Final on Saturday afternoon at Alberta Downs.
Second choice Credit Card Junkie (Keith Clark) left from post two and crossed over in front of insider Cool One (Don Monkman Jr.), but outsiders Minettas Gidget (John Chappell) and Blue Star Beauty (Bill Tainsh Jr.) fired off the gate and battled three-wide in a :26.3 first quarter speed show. Minettas Giget eventually dropped back, but favourite Blue Star Beauty pressed on to take over command from her fellow elimination winner and reached the half in :56.1.
After getting away sixth in the early going, driver James Jungquist sent Born With A Grin first up at the midway point and swept to command by the next marker, timed in 1:26.1. Born With A Grin then opened up daylight on her tiring foes down the stretch to win in 1:55.4. Credit Card Junkie held onto second, but finished 12 lengths in arrears. Cool One was third.
Born With A Grin, who finished third in her elimination last week, paid $40 for the upset win.
The homebred daughter of Fort Apache and Tantas Grin earned her first stakes final trophy for trainer Dan Sifert, who also shares ownership with Nicole Smith of Calgary. Prior to the Diamond Final, Born With A Grin had earned victories in eliminations of the Alberta Princess and ASHA Ralph Klein Breeders Stakes. She has picked up cheques in nine of her 10 seasonal starts for a 2012 bankroll totalling $48,554.
In this week's $8,500 Open Pace, Timberline Court pulled the pocket as the field moved into the final turn and swept by the leading Smart Shark (Connie Kolthammer) en route to a three and a half length victory in 1:54.2. Neil Diamonique (Keith Clark) finished second while Bachelor Pad (Bobby Clark) edged out Hilldrop Shady (Brent Grundy) back in third. The seven-year-old With Held gelding's 26th career win pushed his bankroll over the $300,000 mark for Edmonton's Gerry Hudon, who trains, drives and co-owns with R. Lynn Kowalevsky of Airdrie, Alta.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Alberta Downs.