Alberta two-year-olds clash in stake elims

Alberta-foaled harness racing two-year-olds competed for spots in finals of the ASHA Filly Pace and Century Casinos Pace in two eliminations for each stake on Saturday (Jul. 30).

Captivatethecrowd (Captive Audience, Jamie Gray) advanced behind Nonversation (Mystician, Ryan Grundy) into the third quarter, lost cover when that rival took the lead on the final turn, and pressed on to take the first ASHA Filly Pace elimination for two-year-old pacing fillies in 1:59.1. Nonversation lost the lead late and finished second. Waitinonawoman (Custard The Dragon, Nathan Sobey) was third. Heavy favourite Missionized (Michael Hennessy) laboured home in fourth.

CAPTIVATETHECROWD REPLAY

The win was Captivatethecrowd’s first lifetime in two starts. Gray trains the filly he co-bred and co-owns with Neil Malloch. Aaron Malkin also shares ownership. Her dam, Mothers Melody, won a division of the ASHA Filly Pace in 2014.

Promise Kept (Custard The Dragon, J. Brandon Campbell) rolled first-over from fourth after the half and took over at headstretch for the second elimination victory on debut in 1:56.3. Tigrande (Vertical Horizon, Kelly Hoerdt) closed for place. Dear John Im Gone (Vertical Horizon) edged Handcuffed (Captive Audience, Sobey) for third.

PROMISE KEPT REPLAY

Campbell trains Promise Kept for Calgary residents Jodi Loftus, George Rogers, and Raymond Henry. The filly, the first foal from Brandons Cowboy mare Make Three Wishes, was a $27,000 ASHA Yearling Sale purchase.

Ponder No Longer (Smart Shark, Giesbrecht) tipped three-wide off second-over cover on the final turn and soared past two rivals to score in the first Century Casinos Pace elimination for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings. He was clocked in 1:58.1 as he prevailed by two-and-three-quarter lengths. Over The Horizon (Vertical Horizon, Sobey) finished second. Handsome Dan (State Treasurer, Hoerdt) and Refuelled (Captive Audience, Campbell) were third and fourth, respectively.

PONDER NO LONGER REPLAY

Ponder No Longer, a Rodney Starkewski trainee, is two-for-two lifetime. Starkewski, based in Lamont, co-owns and co-bred the gelding with Clauzette Byckal of Onoway.

Reach Out (Custard The Dragon, Sobey) went coast-to-coast to shock the betting public at 37-1 in the second elimination, holding off Hf Pans Shadow (Santanna Blue Chip, Giesbrecht) by a neck for the win. Virtual Horizon (Vertical Horizon, David Kelly) took show. Rarebuilt (Vertical Horizon, Hennessy) finished fourth.

REACH OUT REPLAY

It was Reach Out’s first career start. Sobey trains the gelding and co-owns him with breeders Kurt and Kathy Schmidt of Leduc County. Reach Out is from Tik Tik Vroom, a Mach Three mare who produced Alberta Sires Stakes champion Dragon Energy.

The $70,000G finals for both events go to gate on Saturday, Aug. 13 at Century Downs.

Century Downs resumes racing on Friday, Aug. 5.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink