Rookie pacers got the red carpet treatment at Northlands Park on Friday as the five-eighths mile oval played host to divisions of the Presidents Pace and the Emerald Lady.
The boys duked it out in three splits of the Presidents Pace, while the girls went toe-to-toe in three divisions of the Emerald Lady.
Here’s a complete recap of tonight’s action:
President Pace
Commence Countdown wired up six rivals to take home top prize in his $36,987 division in a time of 1:58 for trainer/driver Brent Grundy, who also co-owns the son of Marlow Hanover with Diane Bertrand of Edmonton, AB.
The gelding was allowed to set sensible fractions of :28.2, 1:00 and 1:29.3 before rolling home in :28.2 to defeat Rotten Randy and Wassup Bernie.
It was the second win in just three starts for Commence Countdown, who has stashed away $28,736 to date.
Wrangler Hitech was an impressive maiden-breaker in his $36,988 assignment for trainer/driver Keith Clark, who rolled the son of As Promised to a nine and a half-length score in a time of 1:57.2.
The gelding whacked out panels of :29.4, 1:00 and 1:30 before firing home in :27.2 to seal the deal. Raysmidnightcall closed from far off the pace to finish second and Naknak Whodare rounded out the top three.
Clark shares ownership on the youngster with fellow Albertans, Robert Jones and Peter Giannakopoulos. The freshman has stashed away $19,447 in his first four starts.
Oblivious Boy gave trainer/driver Keith Clark his second stakes victory thanks to a 1:58.3 score in the third division. The gelded son of As Promised rolled the field through fractions of :30.1, 1:01.2 and 1:30.2 before jetting home in :28.1 en route to the win.
Swiftys First Star, who was sent off as the odds-on favourite, survived a first-over trip to grab the runner-up spot in the $37,287 affair. Cams Trouble Maker grabbed the show dough.
Owned by Clark and part Doris McDougall of Cochrane, AB, Oblivious Boy bumped his earnings to $22,230 with the win.
Emerald Lady Divisions
Onaway overcame a brutal trip to take home the hardware in her $19,533 assignment in a time of 1:58.2 for trainer/driver Kelly Hoerdt.
The daughter of With Held, who was interfered with going to the quarter pole and then again shortly after the half, rallied in deep stretch to win by a half-length margin over race favourite Cuzzin Mimi, who finished second. Third went to Nazko Finally.
Gregory Martin of Calgary, AB holds the papers on the filly, who has put together a 3-0-2 record in her first seven starts. The lion’s share of the purse bumped her bankroll to $39,099.
Incredible Beauty added to a very productive night for trainer/driver Keith Clark by taking her $19,533 tilt in a time of 1:59.1. The Art Major miss did most of the roadwork en route to defeating stablemate Sealedwithapromise and Lynettes Legacy.
The Alberta trio of Ceejay Stable, Doris McDougall and Robert Jones own the filly, who has put together a 3-0-1 record and a $33,065 bankroll in seven starts.
Arielle Pass survived a first-over trip to earn a career-best clocking of 1:59.1 in her $19.534 contest for trainer Robin Chase and driver Gerry Hudon.
The daughter of Freedoms Pass only needed a :30.4 final quarter to draw away from her rivals in the late stages of the mile. Dixie Baby, who was sent off at 44-1, was second best and West Town Girl finished third.
James Martin, Greg Gillis and Gladys Schmitke pay the bills on the filly, who has stashed away close to $24,000 while putting up a 2-0-1 record in five tries.
To view Friday’s results, click here.
The results from Northlands
The results from Northlands take forever to be posted. It is 9:55 pm and only results to race 6 are up. The whole card is complete but no results.
E.M