Burning Hot blazes to Rumpel Memorial victory

Even a two-move, first-over trip couldn’t stop Burning Hot from capturing her third consecutive harness racing win in the $74,380 Gord and Illa Rumpel Memorial for sophomore pacing fillies on Sunday at Century Downs.

Burning Hot was the quickest starter and grabbed an early advantage for Philip Giesbrecht from post two. Fellow elimination winner Graceful Horizon (Kelly Hoerdt) was put in the pocket by that move and promptly circled Burning Hot, a daughter of Blue Burner, to lead at the quarter mile marker in :27.3. Both foes regrouped as they paced to the half in :58.1, and Burning Hot kicked off the battle again with a pocket pop at five eighths.

The two matched strides on the backstretch until Graceful Horizon, appearing to hold the edge, reclaimed a length lead at three-quarters in 1:25.3. Graceful Horizon entered the stretch on top, but Burning Hot recovered from her stall and surged again to victory in 1:54.4.

Graceful Horizon held second over Coz Im Special (David Kelly), who finished third after following the winner’s cover.

BURNING HOT REPLAY

Burning Hot has now won nine of her 15 career starts, including the Alberta Sires Stakes Super Final and the Emerald Filly Pace, and has earned $126,312. Lamont-based Rodney Starkewski trains the filly, which he bred, with Clauzette Byckal of Onoway.

Sunshine Boy upset at 14-1 in the $74,870 Ralph Klein Memorial for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

Driver Brandon Campbell secured him the pocket in a :28 first quarter, and it paid dividends as foes pressured Shark Week (Michael Hennessy), the leader, throughout the :58.2 and 1:26.1 middle fractions. Campbell used a seam, one created by The Shining retreating from a first-up position, and reeled in Shark Week on the final turn.

Shark Week fought only as far as the eighth pole, and Sunshine Boy drew clear at mid-stretch. Ninety-nine-to-one shot Like A Shadow flew late to attempt an even bigger upset, but Sunshine Boy lunged past the finish line victorious in 1:55. Like A Shadow was a neck short in second. Codename Cigar Box (Hoerdt) finished third after taking a mid-race shuffle and attempting a three-wide move from fourth-over.

SUNSHINE BOY REPLAY

Sunshine Boy, a three-year-old son of Sunshine Beach, earned his first win of 2021 with the victory. It was his third lifetime in 14 attempts, and he has raked in $65,596. Jodi Loftus and George Rogers of Calgary own him with Dana Shore of St. Albert.

Century Downs also hosted eliminations for the Century Casinos Pace for Alberta-sired two-year-old colts and geldings and the ASHA Filly Pace for rookie fillies also by an Alberta stud.

Prairie Pursuit (Richard Remillard), a son of Mystery Chase, won the first Century Casinos Pace elimination in 1:57.4 for owner/breeder Larry Hanson of Emerald Park. It was his second career victory in three tries. Shotgun Seat (Kelly) finished second, Farasthe Eyecansee (Giesbrecht) was third, Subzero (Hoerdt) was fourth, and Kill A Dragon (Campbell) rounded out the top five.

PRAIRIE PURSUIT REPLAY

Vegas Gambler, another by Mystery Chase, broke his maiden in the second elimination with a time of 1:58.4. Giesbrecht drives and Starkewski trains and co-owns the $24,000 ASHA Yearling Sale purchase with Byckal. Sundance Kid (Hennessy) was five lengths behind in second. Ponggo (Campbell) finished third, Sky Walker (Jamie Gray) took fourth, and No Way Jose (Rodney Hennessy) took the final paying position.

VEGAS GAMBLER REPLAY

The $50,000 guaranteed final of the Century Casinos Pace is set for Sunday, Aug. 15.

Jamaica Move (Hoerdt) captured the first ASHA Filly Pace elimination in 1:58.2 on debut for co-owner, trainer, and driver Hoerdt. Ralph Morrow shares ownership of the Vertical Horizon filly. Divine Art (Nathan Sobey) was close in second. Wrangler Jewel (Giesbrecht) took show, more than three lengths clear of fourth-place finisher Lost In The Moment (Michael Hennessy) and Metaki (Campbell), who was fifth.

JAMAICA MOVE REPLAY

Saphire Blue remained undefeated as she won the second elimination. The daughter of Vertical Horizon has won two in two for owner Donald Richardson and trainer Harold Haining. Richardson purchased her for $10,000 from the ASHA yearling sale. Ventimatchalatte (Hoerdt), Fiesta Time (Campbell), and Hf Mrs James (Sobey) completed the top four. Hf Theshadowwithin (Haining) and Katie Lou (Gray) were inseparable in a photo finish for fifth.

SAPHIRE BLUE REPLAY

The ASHA Filly Pace Final, carrying a guaranteed purse of $50,000 will also go forward on Aug. 15.

Century Downs returns with live racing on Tuesday, Aug. 3. The 10-race card will start at 2:15 p.m. MDT and feature a Filly and Mare Open Pace.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink