Not only did driver Kelly Hoerdt win five races on the 10-race card at Century Downs on Sunday (Sept. 19), but a pair of his victories came in the Alberta Sires Stakes (ABSS) finals contested on the card.
Hoerdt’s first stakes score came by open lengths in the $45,400 ABSS Marquis Final with Graceful Horizon in 1:55.
Launching from post eight, Graceful Horizon took over command from Exotic Dragon by a :29 first quarter and rolled unchallenged to the half in :57.4. Burning Hot, the 6-5 favourite who lost stride to the quarter and promptly regained stride, raced parked and progressed uncovered towards the pacesetter, reaching her wheel to three-quarters in 1:26.2. Graceful Horizon repelled the leg weary challenger to the final turn and scooted clear of the field, opening her lead through the lane to win by 5-1/2 lengths over Exotic Dragon. Outlaw Endofanera took third with Burning Hot fading to fourth.
Co-owned by trainer Chris Lancaster with Velda Olding and Derek Gilbert, Graceful Horizon won her sixth race from 10 starts this season and her ninth from 14 overall, pushing her earnings to $105,732. She paid $11.90 to win.
Codename Cigar Box completed Hoerdt’s stakes sweep with a fierce first-over brush for the top to win the $46,000 ABSS Maverick in 1:53.2.
The Custard The Dragon colt settled into seventh while Dragon Energy led Shark Week to the quarter in :27.2. Hoerdt quickly rushed Codename Cigar Box into contention passing the stands first time and recouped about 10 lengths to race alongside new leader Shark Week to a :56.2 half. The pair raced in tandem up the backside and to three-quarters in 1:24.2, where Codename Cigar Box crept to within a nose of the lead. He lost ground when racing wide around the final turn, but the Hoerdt trainee re-rallied off the turn to slide a half length in front of Shark Week to the beam with Bonus Round checking in third another seven lengths behind.
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Owned by Hoerdt along with Fred Gilbert and Blair Corbeil, Codename Cigar Box won his sixth race from 12 starts this season and his seventh from 19 overall, lifting his earnings to $102,828. He paid $6.10 to win.
Hoerdt’s high five came naturally as he won the last five races on the card. Alongside the stakes victories, he steered Cenalta Express ($4.20), State Senator ($16.70) and Momas Son Byrne ($15.00) to the beam first.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Century Downs.