Alberta-sired two-year-olds renew rivalries in Century stakes

The Alberta Sires Stakes continued on Saturday (Oct. 1) at Century Downs with three harness racing divisions of the Shooting Star for freshman pacers and two of the Stardust for their filly counterparts.

Tin Can Timmy (Bjs Bequia) rallied on the final turn for Logan Gillis in the first Shooting Star division to score in a career-best time of 1:55.4. Ponder No Longer (Phil Giesbrecht) led from three-eighths to mid-stretch and finished second. Reach Out (Nathan Sobey) was third.

TIN CAN TIMMY REPLAY

Tin Can Timmy, a homebred for Stephen Crump of Standard, also won a division of the ABSS Rising Star earlier this year and is three-for-six lifetime with $22,150 in earnings. Kelly Crump conditions the colt.

Virtual Horizon (Vertical Horizon, Brandon Campbell) captured the second division, shrugging off a challenge at three-quarters to win by three-and-a-quarter lengths in 1:56.1. Imyourhuckleberry (Kelly Hoerdt) held second after the winner repelled his challenge. Over The Horizon (Sobey) finished third.

VIRTUAL HORIZON REPLAY

Campbell trains Virtual Horizon, a two-time winner in six starts this year. The colt has earned $48,838 in his rookie year, owing much to his Century Casinos Pace victory. Calgary-based owners Jodi Loftus, George Rogers, and Raymond Henry bought him for $21,000 at the ASHA Yearling Sale.

The Dickens (Custard The Dragon) made two moves to the front for Jean Francois Gagne to take the victory in the final split with a clocking of 1:57.3. Cenalta Duramax (Hoerdt) charged late for place. Lumber Baron (Michael Hennessy) was third.

THE DICKENS REPLAY

It was the second career win for The Dickens, whose other tally came in the ABSS Rising Star. He has started six times to date for a total bankroll of $20,338. Donna Sarin trains the colt, a homebred for 8113564 Canada Ltd.

Caviar N Crackers (Captive Audience, Hennessy) executed a long second-half charge to kick off the pair of Stardust divisions with a 19-1 upset in 1:57.2.

She rolled from 12 lengths back at the midway point to a three-length margin over G Ts Skyla (Campbell) at the wire. Amped Up Annie (Sobey) came home third.

CAVIAR N CRACKERS REPLAY

Caviar N Crackers has won two of her four starts for owner/trainer/breeder Rodney Starkewski of Lamont. The 1:57.2 time is a new mark for the filly who has earned $16,050.

Promise Kept (Custard The Dragon, Campbell) romped in the second group for a third straight stakes victory in 1:57.3. She was three-and-a-quarter lengths the best over Cora Cora Cora (Jamie Gray), who swept from last to second. Cenalta Token (Hoerdt) finished third.

PROMISE KEPT REPLAY

The winner, another for the Loftus/Rogers/Henry connections, is now four-for-five with a bankroll of $56,150. Her sole loss was to Cora Cora Cora in the ASHA Filly Pace. Campbell trains Promise Kept.

The Shooting Star and Stardust were the final Alberta Sires Stakes events before the Super Finals on Oct. 15 at Century Downs.

Century Downs will race again on Saturday, Oct. 8.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink