2YOs dazzle in first ABSS action of the year

Century Downs held an 11-dash card on Saturday (Aug. 3) and the main focal point was Alberta Sired Stakes for two-year-olds.

19 fillies were split into three divisions of the ABSS Starlet and six drew into the first split. Ima Shipwreck (Brandon Campbell) had the rail and took the early lead. The betting favourite, Hot Shot Shark (Logan Gillis) found an early comfortable pocket spot. Sitting right behind in third was Custard Dolce (Custard The Dragon).

Ima Shipwreck did all the early work and set fractions of 28.3, 58.2 and 1:28.1. It wasn’t until the deep stretch that Custard Dolce came three wide and sailed on by. She paced a huge last quarter of 27.4 and stopped the clock at 1:56.2.

Hot Shot Shark did enough to finish second while Ima Shipwreck held onto third.

CUSTARD DOLCE REPLAY

Custard Dolce has won back-to-back races after finishing fourth in her racing debut. She is a homegrown product of Jamie Gray. Gray earns the win as both trainer and driver.

The second division also had a field of six draw-ins. Right off the hop, Phone The Cops (Serge Masse) took the lead. Captains Hideaway (Nathan Sobey) took the pocket trip with the co-favourite Ahoof Ahead sitting right behind in third.

After an opening quarter of 29, Ahoof Ahead needed to move up and was first over at the half. The half mile was paced in 59.3 and Phone The Cops still led the way. She would continue to lead well down the stretch until Blowing In The Wind (Winds Of Change) went sailing by right before the wire. The clock stopped at 1:57.2.

Phone The Cops had enough left in the tank to finish second while Ahoof Ahead held onto third. It was deemed a dead heat for fourth between Captains Hideaway and Tornado Rain.

WINDS OF CHANGE REPLAY

Winds Of Change claimed her first career victory and it took her three starts to achieve it. She finished second place in both of her prior starts. Harlond Hanning trains Winds Of Change and Brandon Campbell handles driving duties.

The third split was the only one to feature a field of seven. Mademechangemymind (Winds Of Change) drew the rail and used it to her advantage. Eyes Up Here (David Kelly) and Utherockinmyroll (Philip Giesbrecht) followed right behind.

Mademechangemymind set fractions of 29.2, 59.4 and 1:29.3. She went virtually untouched for the whole mile and even had enough juice left for a 28.2 last quarter. The timer stopped at 1:58 and Mademechangemymind earned the wire-to-wire victory.

Eyes Up Here was second best while Utherrockinmyroll trailed third.

MADEMECHANGEMYMIND REPLAY

It was Mademenchangemymind’s first career win. In her only prior start, she fell and did not finish the race but had a big bounce back on Saturday. Nathan Sobey owns, trains and drives Mademechangemymind.

With 16 colts and geldings entering, only two divisions were needed of the ABSS Rising Star. Momas Work Of Art (Outrageous Art) jumped right off the gate and paced an opening quarter of 28 seconds. Crime Junkie (David Kelly) settled in nicely right behind in second. Momas Work Of Art would go on set middle fractions of 59.2 and 1:28.4. Never really facing any pressure, he would go on to close out the race with a 29.1 last quarter and win in 1:58

Crime Junkie sit second place the entire mile while Rocky Mtn Wine (Jean Francois Gagne) moved up to third.

MOMAS WORK OF ART REPLAY

It is the first career win for Momas Work Of Art. Serge Masse was in the bike for trainer Shelly Arsenault.

Ima Rum Runner (Captain Deo) was the heavy favourite in the second split and rightfully so. He charged to take the front and established the lead. Disco Dancer (David Kelly) found himself in the pocket with Carving Credit following behind. Ima Rum Runner would continue to lead and set fractions of 28.2, 58.1 and 1:27.4. Even though, he virtually went untouched, Ima Rum Runner still paced a 29.2 last quarter and won with ease in 1:57.1.

Discontinued (Brandon Campbell) had a late charge which helped him secure second while Disco Dancer held onto third.

IMA RUM RUNNER REPLAY

It was Ima Rum Runner’s second career win and his third straight top-three finish. He has a lifetime mark of 1:56.3 which came in prior start. Sobey picks up another win as trainer and driver.

The elimination for the Ralph Klein Memorial was also held on Saturday. The top four from each and the fastest fifth place earn a spot in next week’s final.

For complete race results, click here.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink