Virtual Horizon streak snapped in Western Canada Pacing Derby elim

The longest winning streak in Western Canada ended on Saturday (Oct. 14) as longshot Blue Star Mercury (Mystician) defeated Virtual Horizon in the second Western Canada Pacing Derby elimination at Century Mile.

Virtual Horizon, shooting for a 14th straight win, shot to the front as usual for driver Brandon Campbell and cut a quarter of :28.3. Blue Star Mercury went first-up and was racing fourth at the half in :57.3 before catching cover just past that point.

Blue Star Mercury raced second-over approaching three-quarters in 1:25.4, and he outkicked Mickie Mantle (Kelly Hoerdt) in the stretch to chase Virtual Horizon. The streaking colt had two lengths on him at the eighth-pole, but Blue Star Mercury had his number tonight and blew by him to score by two-and-a-half lengths in 1:53.4.

Virtual Horizon held second. One Major Hottie (Phil Giesbrecht) closed for third.

BLUE STAR MERCURY REPLAY

It was Blue Star Mercury’s third career win in 18 starts. He rode Virtual Horizon’s pocket in the Alberta Sires Stakes Plainsmen elimination and final, finishing second to him in both. Blue Star Mercury has now earned $51,162. Rodney Hennessy trains the gelding for Lorne Duffield of Edmonton and Jean Crochetiere of Beaumont.

Over The Horizon (Vertical Horizon) succeeded as the favourite in the first elimination. The colt went to the front early but found himself locked in the pocket turning for home. Nathan Sobey found the colt room at the rail, and he rocketed by his rivals to score in 1:54.1. General Custard (David Kelly) took home the place cheque after a first-up effort. Handsome Dan (Phil Giesbrecht) finished third.

OVER THE HORIZON REPLAY

Over The Horizon is six-for-18 this season and has won three of his past four for Sobey, who also trains and co-owns him. The colt has earned $109,408 in 26 career tries for Sobey, Keith Clark of Foothills, and Robert Jones of Stony Plain.

The Western Canada Pacing Derby Final, with an estimated purse of $110,000, is set for Oct. 21 at Century Mile.

The Alberta Sires Stakes Starburst and Lone Star events, rescheduled from a week prior, also featured on the card. Born A Spy (Smart Shark, Giesbrecht) captured the first Starburst split for two-year-old pacing fillies, kicking clear after a first-up march to claim victory in 1:57. Delta Sunrise (Gillis), three-and-a-quarter lengths adrift, nipped Foothills Magic (Jamie Gray) at the line for place. Born A Spy changed hands to trainer John Chappell and owner Donna Wyse of Rocky View County in September and has placed and won in two Alberta Sires Stakes since.

BORN A SPY REPLAY

Byby Baby Byby (Vertical Horizon, Hennessy) defeated favourite Outlawguns N Roses (Kelly) from the pocket in what was functionally a second division match race by a half-length in 1:52.2. The top two separated from the rest in the second quarter and were more than 20 lengths clear at the finish; Cf Faline (Chappell) topped the trailing group. Byby Baby Byby has now won back-to-back ABSS events for trainer Rodney Hennessy and owner/breeders Bryan Book of Leduc and Diane Hennessy of Strathmore. The filly is three-for-five lifetime with $36,500 in earnings. The Saturday win lowered her mark by more than four seconds.

BYBY BABY BYBY REPLAY

Matteuse (Custard The Dragon, Sobey), five races prior to Virtual Horizon’s defeat, produced the first shock of the night as he captured the first ABSS Lone Star division at 35-1. The colt led to three-eighths but was shuffled to fourth in the middle half. He caught fire in deep-stretch, rocketing to the front for a maiden-breaking upset victory in 1:56.2. He beat pacesetter and odds-on favourite Come On Santana (Gray) by a length. Sharkasaurus (Hennessy) was third. Matteuse had not made the top three in his four previous career starts. Sobey trains the freshman and co-owns him with Jones and Lake Country residents Diane Bertrand and Robert Gilhespy.

MATTEUSE REPLAY

Grey Horizon (Vertical Horizon, Campbell) gave no chance of an upset as one of the night’s heaviest favourites as he won the second Lone Star division by double digits. The dominant gelding made is five-for-six on the year and back-to-back romps as he cruised to an 11-and-three-quarter-length victory in 1:55.2. Hf Winknat Jenna (Kelly) was best of the rest over Cenalta Gunfire (Hoerdt). Grey Horizon has earned $65,250 in his debut season, bolstered by wins in the Norm Kennedy Memorial, ABSS Rising Star, and a place finish in the Century Casino Pace. Campbell conditions the colt for Jodi Loftus, Raymond Henry, and George Rogers of Calgary.

GREY HORIZON REPLAY

The Alberta Sires Stakes will conclude with four $75,000 finals on Nov. 4 at Century Mile.

In the seventh race, Shark Week won his 11th straight race and became the fastest horse in the history of the track. To read about his performance and watch the replay, click here.

The track will hold its next card on Friday, Oct. 20.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink