Stars out in Alberta Sires Stakes opener, accident on card

The Alberta Sires Stakes harness racing season began on Saturday (May 18) at Century Downs with eliminations for the Diamond and Marksman events for three-year-old fillies and males, respectively.

After a loss in her yearly debut, Over Ice (Custard The Dragon) made it six wins in seven lifetime starts in the first Diamond elim. She cruised to a three-length victory in 1:54.1 with Phil Giesbrecht in the bike. Byby Baby Byby (Mike Hennessy) was the only one in her post code, with show finisher Caughtstealinghome (Jamie Gray) more than 10 lengths back.

OVER ICE REPLAY

Over Ice was unbeaten in five starts as a rookie and won the Betty Millbank Memorial. JJJ Stables of Prince George owns the homebred sophomore, now with earnings of $97,150. Brandon Campbell trains her.

Saucy Posse (Custard The Dragon) took the second Diamond group, scoring her first win of the year. Driven by Kelly Hoerdt, she vaulted past pacesetter Born A Spy (Blake Piwniuk) down the lane and was clear by two-and-a-quarter lengths as she stopped the clock in 1:56.3. Oye Como Va (Nathan Sobey) snatched second from Outlawelectricblue (Hennessy).

SAUCY POSSE REPLAY

The winner placed in the Alberta Sires Stakes Super Final Consolation for her division at two last year. She is two-for-nine lifetime and has earned $13,020. Hoerdt trains the filly and co-owns her with Blair and Erna Corbeil of Leduc.

Outlawguns N Roses (Captive Audience), one of Alberta’s top fillies last year, crushed her opponents in the final elim. David Kelly let the filly loose coming down the backstretch, and she put up 12-and-a-quarter-lenghts on the rest as she completed a 1:53.4 victory.

OUTLAWGUNS N ROSES

Outlawguns N Roses was four-for-nine at two with wins in the ASHA Filly Pace, Alberta Sires Stakes Starlet, and Brad Gunn, and a place finish in the Super Final. The sophomore is unbeaten through two this season and has earned $104,040 lifetime for trainer Rodney Starkewski, who co-owns her with Clauzette Byckal.

An accident occurred in the first Alberta Sires Stakes Marksman elimination that involved several horses going into the first turn. All drivers affected, other than Hoerdt, were cleared by paramedics to continue driving. Hoerdt was sent to the hospital as a precautionary measure. No further information is available at this time.

Defending Alberta Sires Stakes champ Come On Santana (Santanna Blue Chip) captured the remaining Marksman split. Jamie Gray secured him a pocket ride behind Grey Horizon (Hennessy) until the far turn, and the gelding kicked home down the stretch to hold on by a length over the first-over Rum N Custard (Piwniuk). Tzilacatzin (Chris Brown) was third.

COME ON SANTANNA REPLAY

Come On Santana’s record now reads six wins from nine outings and $121,000 in earnings. He won the Century Casino Pace, Alberta Sires Stakes Rising Star, Rocky Mountain Boys, and Alberta Sires Stakes Super Final at two last year. Gray trains his homebred gelding, whom he co-owns with Max Gibb and Riley and Brie Gray.

The Marksman and Diamond finals were scheduled for Saturday, May 25, though the schedule may change as a result of the accident.

Racing continues at Century Downs on Friday, May 24.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink