Alberta superstar extends streak to 13 in $56,300 stake

Virtual Horizon (Vertical Horizon) wired the field in the $56,300 Alberta Sires Stakes Plainsmen for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings in his 13th straight harness racing victory on Saturday (Sep. 30) at Century Mile.

The colt hustled out to the lead in his usual style and put up a :28.1 first quarter with Brandon Campbell at the lines. He reached the midway point in :57.1 as Tin Can Timmy (Logan Gillis) loomed first-over from two lengths back.

Tin Can Timmy put the leader under fire in the third panel, forcing a speedy quarter from Virtual Horizon as he pulled level on the final turn. Virtual Horizon rebuffed that rival as the reached three-quarters in 1:24.4, but Blue Star Mercury (Michael Hennessy) became the new threat as he attacked from the pocket down the stretch. The challenger closed the gap to within a length at the pylons, but the unstoppable Virtual Horizon kicked away once again to secure the victory by a length in 1:54.

Blue Star Mercury finished second. The Dickens (Phil Giesbrecht) soared in mid-stretch to rally from eighth to third.

VIRTUAL HORIZON REPLAY

Virtual Horizon has won 13 races in his perfect three-year-old season, including five stake finals. The colt, trained by Campbell, has now tallied 16 times in 20 career starts. He has raked in $318,863 for Calgary-based owners Jodi Loftus, George Rogers, and Raymond Henry.

G Ts Skyla (Mystician) captured the sister stake, the Alberta Sires Stakes Princess, in explosive fashion for her fourth stakes triumph of the season.

The filly marched from fourth to second after the quarter in :27.3 to fill a gapped pocket and followed leader Outlawabovenbeyond (Giesbrecht) to the half in :54.4. The latter headed the field to the third station in 1:23.2 as she and G Ts Skyla separated from the rest of the field.

Outlawabovenbeyond led by three lengths turning for home, but the cushion evaporated as G Ts Skyla vaulted past her in the stretch. G Ts Skyla continued to run up the score with the remaining racetrack, flying to the line to score in 1:54.2 by seven-and-a-half lengths.

You Promyst (Jamie Gray) passed the tiring Outlawabovenbeyond late for place.

G TS SKYLA REPLAY

G Ts Skyla is now eight-for-10 this season and is unbeaten in stakes finals. The Scott McGinn-trained filly crossed $200,000 in earnings with the win, increasing her bankroll to $202,685. She has won 10 of her 14 lifetime outings for McGinn, who co-owns her with breeders Gerald McGinn, Marjorie McGinn, and Terry McGinn.

Ernesto Delacruz (Vertical Horizon, Jean-Francois Gagne) cut the mile the night’s Preferred and held off a persistent Samba Beat (Giesbrecht) for the victory in 1:52.4. The latter closed to within three-quarters-of-a-length in a place finish. Armycaptin Hanover (Kelly Hoerdt) was third. It was Ernesto Delacruz’s third win of the season and his first since May. Gagne owns and trains the four-year-old gelding, who is now 14-for-40 lifetime with $269,273 in earnings.

ERNESTO DELACRUZ REPLAY

Century Mile will resume racing on Friday, Oct. 6.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink