Driver Philip Giesbrecht steered a pair of popular Alberta Stardust winners on Saturday afternoon at Alberta Downs while Nighttraintovegas came close to the two-year-old pacing filly track record.
Giesbrecht worked out similar trips for Triple Action and Sweet Sugar in their respective $18,767 Alberta Sires Stakes divisions, sending both favoured fillies to the lead past the opening quarter mark.
Triple Action (Brandons Cowboy-The Three Of Us) took the lead down the backstretch and cruised to a two and a quarter length victory in 1:57.3 for trainer Joe Ratchford and owner Raggs To Riches of Aidrie, Alta. while Tim Brown trainee Sweet Sugar (Tajma Hall-Hide The Candy) was on the move at the quarter mark and romped to a three and three-quarter length score in a career-best equalling 1:58.3 for owners Sandra Brown of Langley, B.C. and Archie Melnyk of Sherwood Park, Alta.
Triple Action completed a sweep of all three ABSS legs for two-year-old pacing fillies. Sweet Sugar is also undefeated in ABSS action although she has only competed in the last two events.
With Brandon Campbell in the bike, Nighttraintovegas left from the outside post position in the fastest $18,467 division and drew off to a seven and three-quarter length victory in 1:55, just missing the track record for freshman fillies by one-fifth of a second.
Richard Schneider trains Nighttraintovegas, a daughter of Camystic out of Midnight In Vegas who is five-for-six in her career. The near perfect filly boasts two wins in ABSS legs with her only blemish a second-place finish in the second round. She is owned by Dick Schneider of Sherwood Park, Alta. and Edmonton's David Halmosi.
The Alberta Stardust is the final leg of the Alberta Sires Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies. The top performers of the season will face off in the rich Battle of Alberta Super Finals on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Northlands Park.
Top training honours on the day when to Kelly Hoerdt, who won three consecutive races with four-year-old gelding My World ($9.50), ABSS sophomore filly Emotions Run Wild ($5.30) and the streaking five-year-old mare Just Saucy ($2.30).
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Alberta Downs.