Three-year-old pacing filly Dirt Road Anthem and driver Don Howlett swept their elimination heat and the final to be crowned the champions of the Manitoba Great Western Stake on Saturday at Killarney.
The Richard Rey trainee went wire-to-wire to win the first and fastest of three $2,514 elimination heats in 2:04.2 and then romped to a four length victory in a career-best clocking of 2:02.3 in the $4,028 final.
Dirt Road Anthem is owned by Trevor and Michael Williams of Winnipeg, M.B. Unraced at two, the Armbro Baylor-Pontchatula filly has won five of her nine starts this year while earning $8,948 in purses.
Elska Min, another elimination winner, finished second in the final for Richard Remillard. Chill Fighter, driven by Kirk Rogers, was third in both his elimination and the final despite suffering interference and broken equipment. Mexican Maid and Darryl Mason took the other elimination, but the filly broke stride in the stretch while advancing first over and finished back in fifth.
Howlett, Richard Rey and the Williams also teamed up to win the first of two $2,000 MHHI Mares Stake eliminations on Saturday with Smoky Moon. The five-year-old Fort Apache mare earned a front end victory in 2:00.1, prevailing by seven and a half lengths over Real Pretty and George Isman with Down Home Stylish and Rogers well back in third. The win was her second at Killarney in four Manitoba starts.
Cory Manning and his homebred Sir Luck mare Gottaluckydeal cruised to a 2:01.4 three and three-quarter length victory in the second elimination over Smileforthepicture and Howlett while Flight Delay finished third for Roland Rey. She is now two-for-eight on the year.
The $3,240 Kindergarten Stake for Manitoba-bred two-year-olds was a non-wagering race in which Als Friday Player and trainer/driver Marc Fillion swept around stablemate Hillybilly Broke and Jacques Lambert after the half-mile mark and drew away to win by seven and three-quarter lengths in 2:07.1. Cory Manning trainees Timely Grace (Howlett) and Marvtherat (Manning) completed the field.
Als Friday Player is owned by W. Allan Drader of Brookdale, M.B. The Western Gambler-Positive Player colt boasts a near-perfect record with two wins and a close third-place finish in three outings.
The Sunday, August 31 card of harness racing at Killarney was rained out.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following links:
Saturday Results - Killarney / Non-Wagering Results - Killarney