Three-year-old pacing fillies co-owned, trained and driven by Hall of Fame horseman Keith Clark dominated a pair of $17,500 Bev Sears Sales Stakes divisions featured on Sunday afternoon at Alberta Downs
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The Clark entry of Minettas Nightstar and Clintons Keepsake finished one-two in the first division. Minettas Nightstar and Clark wired the field of five, carving out fractions of :28, :59.4 and 1:29.2 en route to the 1:56.4 triumph. Clintons Keepsake, driven by Bobby Clark, came on from third to place over pocket-sitter Clintons Playmate (James Jungquist).
The daughter of Brandons Cowboy-Lucky X Ample, co-owned by Clark and John Hind of Calgary, Alta., has now won half of her 12 starts this year to earn $61,754.
Following a pair of victories in her Alberta Diamond elimination and the final, Dewinton Destroyer found herself back in the winner’s circle thanks to a successful first over journey in the second split. Barona Josie (Bill Tainsh Jr.) led the field past panels of :27.1, :57.4 and 1:27 while Dewinton Destroyer and Clark advanced first over from fourth and kicked away in the stretch to a two and three-quarter length victory. Pocket-sitter Im Sheila (Kelly Hoerdt) finished second while the winner’s stablemates, Promise Me Pez with Bobby Clark and Fortunate Design with Don Monkman Jr., came on for third and fourth over the pacesetter.
Clark also shares ownership of the daughter of As Promised-Avacal Hope with Doris McDougall of Cochrane, Alta. She has won half of her 16 starts while banking $84,673.
Jennas Pass also delivered a winning performance for Clark and his partners, Macpherson Standardbreds of Edmonton, Alta., and Verne Rea of Calgary, Alta., in the $8,800 Fillies & Mares Open Pace. The five-year-old Freedoms Pass-Presidential Jenna mare was a wire-to-wire winner in 1:55 flat. With Bells On (Kelly Hoerdt) finished a half-length behind off a pocket trip while the winner's stablemate, Rossridge Fortune with Bobby Clark, rounded out the top three finishers.
The victory was her fifth in a row and second since being claimed by Clark and company for $12,500 on August 22 at Alberta Downs. She is now eight-for-17 on the year with $31,160 earned.
For results from Sunday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Alberta Downs.