Undefeated pacing filly Fire Watch earned her second straight stakes victory on Saturday afternoon in the first leg of the Alberta Sires Stakes for two-year-olds at Alberta Downs.
Heavy favourite Fire Watch, now four-for-four in pari-mutuel races for trainer/driver Travis Cullen, matched her mark of 1:58.1 that she took last time out in the Emerald Filly Stakes on July 27.
Blue Star Texas (Keith Clark) and Beauty Of Nature (Gerry Hudon) traded turns on the lead through early fractions of :28 and :58.4 in the first $24,600 division before Cullen sent his filly from fourth to first. Fire Watch raced past three-quarters in 1:28.2 while extending her lead to three lengths and held off the oncoming Honey Booboolina (Philip Giesbrecht) down the stretch for a final winning margin of half a length. Blue Star Texas was the best of the rest, finishing two and a half lengths behind in third.
Cullen picked out the Camystic-Raging Red Head filly, a $3,000 purchase as a yearling at the ASHA Sale, and shares ownership with his father Ron and Trevor Williams. She is a full sister to Forest Wilson Memorial Sales Stakes winner Fired Up and two-time Alberta Super Final Consolation runner-up Blazing By.
Outlaw Smartypants broke her maiden in the other Sires Stakes division with a 1:59 victory in rein to Philip Giesbrecht for owner/trainer Joe Ratchford.
Favourite Cam Finish (Keith Clark) led the field of fillies through fractions of :28.3, :58.4 and 1:28.2 before being collared by Outlaw Smartypants, who closed from sixth to win by three-quarters of a length. Crack The Cognac (Bill Tainsh Jr.) finished three and three-quarter lengths behind in third off a pocket trip.
Outlaw Smartypants was making just her second pari-mutuel start. The Smart Shark-Fox Valley Cherish filly is a full-sister to sophomore colt Outlaw Gunpowder, an Alberta Sires Stakes winner at two, and a half-sibling to Blue Burner mare Outlawcherishafool, an Emerald Filly Stakes winner and Alberta Super Final runner-up.
The two-year-old pacing fillies will face off next in the Alberta Starburst leg on Saturday, Sept. 6. at Alberta Downs. Their male counterparts will compete in the Alberta Rising Star first leg tomorrow afternoon, Sunday, Aug. 10.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Alberta Downs.