Dead heat in Century Open

Moosette and Lady Neigh Neigh and the track’s top two harness racing drivers were equal at the wire in the co-featured Fillies and Mares Open at Century Downs on Monday.

Lady Neigh Neigh (Kelly Hoerdt) and Moosette (Brandon Campbell) maintained their starting positions as the mares left from posts three and six respectively. After settling single-file in a :27.3 first quarter mile, the latter slid out second-over as they approached the half in :56.4.

The outside flow flushed Lady Neigh Neigh out of the three-hole on the backstretch, but favoured leader Tajmeallover (Jean Francois Gagne) kept the closers at bay while travelling to three-quarters in 1:25. Lady Neigh Neigh began cutting through the deficit as the field rounded the last turn, and Moosette shook free of her stalled cover three-wide.

Lady Neigh Neigh struck the front at the top of the stretch but laboured late, and Moosette flew late to tie her at the finish. The dead heat was clocked in 1:54.1. Glimpseofgoodness (Nathan Sobey) also closed but was a half length short.

LADY NEIGH NEIGH/MOOSETTE REPLAY

Lady Neigh Neigh, a five-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight, has now earned $187,975 and won 21 times in her 48 lifetime tries. Airdrie resident Christopher Lancaster trains and co-owns with Christopher Lambie of Rockyview County.

Moosette is nine-for-26 in her career and has earned $59,451. The four-year-old Hes Watching mare is a homebred, owned by Shale Stables of Merritt. Michael Campbell conditions her.

After four wins on the Monday card, Hoerdt extended his lead in the drivers’ standings. He tops the table with 52, six more than Brandon Campbell’s 46.

Icy Blue Scooter earned his third consecutive top-class victory on the card, taking the Open Handicap by two and three quarter lengths. The eight-year-old Blue Burner gelding has won an Open at Century in each of the past three weeks and is four-for-10 this season. Sobey drives, trains, and shares ownership of the gelding with Edmonton residents Diane Bertrand and Robert Gilhespy. The horse is 33-for-155 lifetime and has raked in $256,820.

ICY BLUE SCOOTER REPLAY

Racing returns to Century Downs on Sunday, Sep. 5.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink