ABSS elims complete at Century Downs

Top Alberta-sired sophomores continue their sires stakes harness racing campaigns in seven total eliminations on Saturday (Jul. 15) at Century Downs.

There were three eliminations of the Alberta Sires Stakes (ABSS) Marquis for fillies and four for the Maverick for colts and geldings.

Beep Bop A Lula (Vertical Horizon, Dave Kelly) held off odds-on favourite Caviar N Crackers (Phil Giesbrecht) in the first Marquis elimination.

The filly cut the mile and was home in 1:54.4 with Caviar N Crackers unable to make up the final length. Nonversation (Michael Hennessy) finished third.

BEEP BOP A LULA REPLAY

Beep Bop A Lula is now four-for-12 lifetime and has earned $41,875. Kelly trains the filly, who finished second in the Alberta Sires Stakes Diamond earlier this season. She’s co-owned by Donald McDougall, Daniel McDougall, and Kelly.

Beach Myst (Mystician, Kelly Hoerdt) vaulted past Cenalta Token (Logan Gillis) from the pocket to break her maiden for new connections in the second elimination in 1:57.2. The latter set the pace and held onto second over the closing Waitinonawoman (Nathan Sobey).

BEACH MYST REPLAY

The winner was previously winless in seven starts. It was her debut for Hoerdt, who now co-owns the filly with Gabrielle Dumoulin of Beaumont. Beach Myst now has total earnings of $12,617.

G Ts Skyla (Mystician, Gillis) backed up her victory in the Shirley McClellan Memorial with a four-and-three-quarter-length romp in the final elimination. She stopped the clock in 1:55. Cora Cora Cora (Jamie Gray) and Riskofthunderstorm (Kelly) finished second and third, respectively.

G TS SKYLA REPLAY

G Ts Skyla has now won three straight and six of nine lifetime. The homebred filly has earned $85,825 for Gerald, Scott, Marjorie, and Terry McGinn of Stony Plain.

The first of four Maverick eliminations went to Over The Horizon (Vertical Horizon, Sobey), who wired them and crossed the line with a two-and-a-quarter-length cushion in 1:56.1. Catfish Jack (Thomas Miller) was second-best. Hf Devan James (Brandon Campbell) was promoted to third.

OVER THE HORIZON REPLAY

It was a back-to-back win for Over The Horizon, who is now three-for-18 lifetime with $43,656 in earnings. Sobey trains the colt and shares ownership with Keith Clark of Foothills and Robert Jones of Stony Plain.

Imyourhuckleberry (Westwardho Hanover, Miller) marched to the front at the top of the lane and cruised to victory in 1:55.4 in the second group. Ponder No Longer (Campbell) took second over Tin Can Timmy (Gillis).

IMYOURHUCKLEBERRY REPLAY

Imyourhuckleberry has tallied six times in 15 career appearances and has raked in $40,525. The Glenn Lutz-trained colt was third in the ABSS Super Final last year. Lutz co-owns him with Janine Lutz.

Heavy favourite Mickie Mantle (Custard The Dragon, Hoerdt) met expectations in the third elimination, leading at every call and winning comfortably in 1:54. Blue Star Mercury (Michael Hennessy) was a clear second from the pocket. Mister Moose (Gray) took the show spot.

MICKIE MANTLE REPLAY

Mickie Mantle, who finished second in the ABSS Marksman Final on Jun. 3, is now seven-for-13 with a bankroll of $122,998. Hoerdt trains the colt and owns him with Fred Gilbert of Brandon.

Virtual Horizon (Vertical Horizon, Campbell) added an eighth win to his perfect season and tied the time of Mickie Mantle in the last elimination. He held off General Custard (Kelly) in a photo. Rum N Raisins (Gray) was well back of them in third.

VIRTUAL HORIZON REPLAY

Virtual Horizon has won both the Marksman and the Moore’s Mile Breeders’ Stake this year. The defending ABSS champ is now 11-for-15 and has amassed $192,938 in earnings. Campbell conditions the colt for Jodi Loftus, George Rogers, and Raymond Henry of Calgary.

The finals of the Marquis and Maverick, both worth $50,000, are set for Jul. 22.

Century Downs will race next on Friday, Jul. 21.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink