Eleventh straight for ABSS champ as Century Mile opens

Double Alberta Sires Stakes champion Divine Art (Outrageous Art) took the spotlight on opening day at Century Mile on Friday (Nov. 18) as she tallied her 11th consecutive harness racing victory in the evening’s Fillies and Mares Preferred.

In the filly’s debut at the track, trainer/driver Nathan Sobey put her on top with :28.4 first-quarter speed. She completed the half in :58 and entered the final turn unhurried on the lead.

Stash The Cookies (Logan Gillis) finally presented a challenge as they approached three-quarters in 1:27.2 and threatened the leader as they headed down the lane. Her chase proved futile though, as Divine Art remained steadfast and etched out a one-length margin as she hit the wire in 1:55.

Past Affair (David Kelly) was another length-and-a-half back in third.

DIVINE ART REPLAY

Divine Art has now won 11 straight, including the Alberta Sires Stakes Super Final. The Friday win, her 15th lifetime, boosted her earnings total past a quarter-million to $255,627. She has started 21 times for owners Robert Jones of Stony Plain, Diane Bertrand of Lake Country, and John Hind of Calgary.

Sobey started the track’s meet superbly with four winning drives, including three of his own trainees.

Century Mile will follow a Friday-Saturday schedule with 6:15 p.m. MST post times. This excludes Saturday, Nov. 19, Friday, Nov. 25, and Friday, Dec. 30 and both days preceding Christmas.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink