Closers capture Century Opens

Late speed was in vogue on Tuesday at Century Downs, as both Open winners passed every foe to win their respective harness racing dashes.

Tajmeallover set the closing precedent in the first Open, a race restricted to fillies and mares.

Driver, trainer, co-owner, and co-breeder Jean Francois Gagne allowed the field to go by and settled Tajmeallover into the trailing spot. One-to-five favourite Mrs Suhwiggins (Michael Hennessy) set a moderate tempo, pacing the first quarter mile in :28.1 and the half in :57.1.

Tajmeallover shifted to the outside and exploded after the midway point, reaching the lead at five-eighths, and clearing Mrs Suhwiggins before finishing the third panel in 1:25. No one was able to keep pace with Tajmeallover after the 10-year-old Tajma Hall mare made the lead, and she closed out her first victory of the season in 1:53.3.

Mrs Suhwiggins regained some ground in the stretch but was two lengths behind in second. Glimpseofgoodness (Kelly Hordt) closed for third.

TAJMEALLOVER REPLAY

Tajmeallover is now 52-for-149 lifetime and has earned $460,642. Gagne, a resident of Wetaskiwin, co-owns with Peter Van Seggelen of Heritage Point, Carl Waraar of Kelowna, and Tapron Holdings Ltd.

Armycaptin Hanover benefited from a battle on the front and gained three positions in the final eighth of a mile to win the other Open Pace.

He sat second last for Hoerdt as Icy Blue Scooter (Nathan Sobey) and Tiempo Hanover (Brandon Campbell) fought for the lead through :27 and :55 opening fractions. Armycaptin Hanover became the trailer as Dontpokethedragon (Hennessy) slid out nearing the half, and Hoerdt ordered his charge to follow that rival.

Both dodged a fading Tiempo Hanover on the backstretch and continued their climb past the field. Armycaptin Hanover remained second-over as they entered the final turn, but the Hoerdt-trained son of Captaintreacherous erased the deficit by mid-stretch and soared to the 1:54.1 score. Dontpokethedragon paced strongly to the finish for place after a first-over grind. Icy Blue Scooter held third.

ARMYCAPTIN HANOVER REPLAY

Hoerdt co-owns the five-year-old gelding with fellow Beaumont resident Blair Corbeil. The horse is now less than a thousand dollars away from breaking the six-digit barrier. He has won 18 times in 64 tries and is six-for-12 this season.

Racing returns to Century Downs on Sunday, Aug. 15 at 2:15 p.m. MDT.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink