Three-year-old pacer Play Me Right turned in an impressive 1:51.1 triumph at Alberta Downs as he prevailed in a two-horse breakaway down the stretch in Sunday afternoon's ASHA Colt Stakes, which were split into a pair of $10,000 divisions.
In the first and fastest division, the Brandon Campbell-driven Play Me Right sat a pocket trip through fractions of :27.3, :55.2 and 1:23.1 before sprinting home in :27.4 for the one length victory. The 4-1 third choice in the wagering, Play Me Right upset the popular pacesetter Blue Star Admiral (Bill Tainsh Jr.) in deep stretch. Finishing 11-1/2 lengths behind in third was Senga Nanjeing (Ryan Grundy).
Play Me Right shaved almost five seconds off his lifetime mark while notching his fourth win from 21 starts. The winning time came within four-fifths of a second of the all-age track record.
Sanford Campbell trains the Ameripan Gigolo-Clintons Deligh gelding for Jodi Loftus and Debbie Campbell, both of Calgary, Alta. The winner's share of the purse lifted his bankroll to $62,665.
The other division was won by Outlaw Falcon for trainer Donna Sarin.
Driven by J.F. Gagne, 6-1 fourth choice Outlaw Falcon sat fifth through fractions of :27.3 and :55.2 before advancing first over. Favourite Tip Top Tap (Rod Hennessy) was leading the field when he broke stride at the third quarter mark of 1:23. Outlaw Falcon had to manoeuvre around the breaker at the top of the stretch, but then kicked into high-gear and powered away from the field in :28.1 to win by seven and a half lengths in 1:52.2 -- besting his former mark taken in a qualifier by more than five seconds. Pocket-sitter Beren Hanover (Keith Clark) was second while a from-last Gotta Bad Attitude (Gary Clark) finished nine lengths behind in third.
The Blue Burner-Watchasgirlsgoby gelding is owned by 8113564 Canada Ltd. of Sherwood Park, Alta. Unraced as a two-year-old, Outlaw Falcon earned his second win in 10 starts and pushed his bankroll to $27,228.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Alberta Downs.