On Sunday (Sept. 22), Century Mile played host to no less than five stakes races for two-year-old pacers, as the 11-dash program featured three divisions of the Century Mile Stakes for the males and two splits of the Jim Rogers Memorial for the fillies.
The $15,000 Century Mile dashes for the boys took place during Race 2, 3 and 4.
After having sat well off the tempo in sixth, the Jamie Gray-trained and driven Lovemyrockinbird ($9.90) captured the first of the Century Mile divisions with a one and a quarter-length victory in a life’s best 1:55.
The gelded son of Mystery Chase—Kill A Rockingbird started his overland trek from the backfield after the :29 opening quarter and was still uncovered on the outside at the :58.1 half-mile marker. He had flushed the cover of Criminal Record (driven by Kelly Hoerdt) by the time the three quarters flashed to life in 1:26.4. From there, Lovemyrockinbird was able to get up in the lane and post the sharp victory. Criminal Record finished second and Just Mac (David Kelly) finished third. Gray (of Sturgeon County, AB), co-owns the bay along with James Rhodes (High River, AB) and Joe Tinelli (Sturgeon County, AB). Lovemyrockinbird has now won three of his seven starts and has banked $18,900 in purses.
The public bet the Keith Clark-trained and driven Speaking Of Art ($4.20) down to the favourite for the second of the Century Mile splits and the brown colt sure wanted to deliver.
The son of Artspeak—Panagler did just that, as Speaking Of Art turned his sustained first-over move into a two-length victory in front of his supporters. Clark and his charge got away fourth from Post 7 and moved first-up after the :28.3 quarter pole. Speaking Of Art pressured the pacesetting Outlawfryreyesonly through the middle half (:58.1, 1:27.2) and lived to tell about it. Clark continued to roll in the final quarter, as he and his charge came home in :27.4 for the mark-lowering win. Stolen Moment (David Kelly) rallied for second, while Rockin N Rollin (Mike Hennessey) finished further back in third. Speaking Of Art has now won three of his four career races and banked $21,746. Clark (of Foothills, AB), co-owns Speaking Of Art along with Doris McDougall (Cochrane, AB) and Robert Jones (Stoney Plain, AB).
It was longshot time in the third of the Century Mile divisions, as the Nathan Sobey-trained and driven Trip Hammer ($37.90) shrugged off the distinction of being the least supported starter in the field and went on to post a two and a quarter-length victory in 1:55.1.
After having started from Post 5, the gelded son of Trust The Artist—Tapioca Hanover was third at the quarter pole (:28.2) and fourth through the middle splits (:57, 1:26.3). Sobey had angled out second over at the third call and it proved to be a winning move. Trip Hammer displayed a solid late kick to erase his deficit and open up some daylight at the wire. Dontpokethedragon (Keith Clark) finished second and Ragged But Right (Kelly Hoerdt) was third under the wire. Trip Hammer’s maiden-breaking win came in what was his seventh career starts. He is co-owned by Sobey (Sturgeon County, AB) along with Edmonton’s Diane Bertrand, Robert Gilhespy and Terry Ostashek.
L A Woman took the opening split of the Jim Rogers Memorial going wire to wire in 1:56.3.
Driver Gerry Hudon sent L A Woman to the point from post 4 and overtook Treasure Horizon for the lead passing a :29.3 first quarter. Race-favourite Custards Crown, positioned fifth, pulled first over moving to the half, but only progressed to third and stalled through fractions of :58.4 and 1:27.2. The parked pick left a seam for Treasure Horizon to pop pocket moving to the top of the stretch as she gave pursuit on the pacesetter through the stretch, settling for second one length away. Maggie Muffin, fanning to the center of the course late, took third.
A daughter of Trust The Artist, L A Woman won her second race from six starts, earning $23,566. Harold Haining trains the homebred for Donald Richardson. She paid $9.50 to win.
Blue Star Dreaming sat off dueling leaders and launched through the stretch to win in 1:55.2.
Miss Itunes took control heading to a :28.2 first quarter with Snow Shark securing the pocket. Alexas Queen then angled off the cones and brushed to the top before a :56.3 half. Miss Itunes moved for the lead once more rounding the final turn and matched strides with Alexas Queen passing three-quarters in 1:25.2. Blue Star Dreaming, through the shuffle, raced fourth entering the stretch drive and tracked Snow Shark’s move for the tiring leaders. The Rod Hennessy trainee then shot past Snow Shark to win by one-and-three-quarter lengths while Jessies Girl closed from fourth over for third.
Co-owned by Hennessy with Lorne Duffield, Blue Star Dreaming won her second race from five starts, earning $26,625. Michael Hennessy steered the Blue Burner filly who paid $10.80 to win.
To view the harness racing results for Sunday at Century, click the following link: Sunday Results – Century Mile.