One favourite delivered and one faltered in the set of $27,400 ABSS Starburst divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies at Alberta Downs on Monday afternoon
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Cool One found herself in the role of the spoiler in the opening division for trainer/driver Don Monkman, Jr., who engineered the 8-1 upset with the daughter of Camystic-Cool Grin. Monkman marched her right to the lead from Post 5, and after slicing out splits of :28.4, 1:00 and 1:29.2 she kicked home in :29.2 to stop the teletimer in 1:58.4. Popcorn, who was sent off as the 4-5 choice, recovered from a break leaving the gate to finish second. Third prize went to Brendons No Fly.
Don M Jr Stables, Ralph Klein, George Rogers and Bill Andrew of Alberta share ownership on the filly, who celebrated the first win of her career. The $25,000 purchase from the 2010 ASHA Yearling Sale owns a 1-1-2 record from six starts, and she’s managed to put $17,865 on her card.
Blue Star Beauty brought a perfect record into the second division, and a wire-to-wire performance helped her improve to 4-for-4 for the tandem of driver Bill Tainsh, Jr. and trainer Douglas Stout. Tainsh carved out fractions of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:26.2 before using a :29-second closing panel to seal the deal by 3-1/2 lengths over Outlaw Star Maker in 1:55.2. Born With A Grin grabbed the show dough.
Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, the daughter of As Promised-Whitesand Secret bumped her bankroll to $37,975 for owner Derek Stout of Camrose, AB. The youngster was a $2,000 bargain purchase from the 2010 ASHA Yearling Sale.
Clintons Escape used last second heroics to take home weekly bragging rights in the $8,800 Open Pace for trainer/driver Keith Clark. The four-year-old son of Clintons Cigar-Emotionaliscape sat just off the speed while Trust The Artist ripped through fractions of :27.1, :55.3 and 1:24. Clark called on his charge in the late going, and the gelding complied by using a :28-second final frame to post the 1:52.3 win. Trust The Artist was a neck back in second, with Smart Shark tagging along to finish third.
Clark shares ownership on the pacer with Allan Neurauter of High River, AB and the Estate Of George D Young of Maple Ridge, BC. The pacer is a two-time winner this year and a 15-time winner to date. The lion’s share of Monday’s purse boosted his overall bankroll to $207,057.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Alberta Downs.