California girl returns to Century Downs winner’s circle

Senga Nightmare (Vertical Horizon) won at Century Downs for the first time this harness racing season with a victory over her Fillies and Mares Open Pace foes on Tuesday (May 31) in her third start back from a successful campaign in California.

Ryan Grundy, the sole proprietor of the four-year-old mare, raced her two-wide through the :28.2 opening quarter to take point. She paced a :57.2 half before increasing speed to halt a first-over advance from the heavily-favoured Stash The Cookies (Phil Giesbrecht).

Senga Nightmare padded her cushion as the field of five passed three-quarters in 1:25.2, opening up by two lengths on Stash The Cookies. The leader maintained that advantage all the way home and sealed the win in 1:54.1.

Stash The Cookies held off Jessies Girl (Kelly Hoerdt) for place. The winner paid $6.80.

Grundy, a resident of Airdrie, has trained and driven Senga Nightmare to 12 wins and $110,754 in 35 starts. She competed at Century Downs for most of her debut season at three before moving to California and competing at Cal Expo in the winter. Most notably, she swept the four-year-old pacing filly division of the California Sires Stakes, including the $50,000 Championship on Apr. 15. She finished second to Graceful Horizon in the $30,000 Bev Sears Memorial in her return to Century Downs on May 14 and again in the Fillies and Mares Open on May 24. Graceful Horizon was not present on Tuesday.

Also on the card, Lovethatsixpack (Sixdaysontheroad) extended her win streak to three in a lifetime-best performance. She wired the claiming field for driver David Kelly and owner/trainer Stewart Waterman of Airdrie. The 10-year-old mare’s time of 1:55.1 is a new lifetime mark in her 174th career start. She has won 26 times and earned $97,079.

Century Downs action returns on Saturday, Jun. 4 at 2:15 p.m. MDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink