Giesbrecht slams to cap off driving title

Harness racing driver Phil Giesbrecht added another four victories to his total as the reinsman completed his title-winning season at Century Mile on New Year’s Eve.

He won the second as Redstone Arsenal (Huntsville) braved a first-up trip for a 1:55 victory. Giesbrecht then took the fifth with a hard-closing Singing Ramona (Sportswriter) and the sixth as Baby Limbo (Captain Crunch) soared to a five-and-a-half-length score. It was the latter mare’s eighth consecutive win. He completed the grand slam with Litizor (Vertical Horizon) in the penultimate race as the gelding flew past horses late to win by a length.

Giesbrecht finished the season with 61 wins at Century Mile, 13 more than the second-placed Mike Hennessy.

Travis Ellis wrapped up the training title with a pair of wins on New Year’s Eve. He bookended the card as Nogaseddie (Artspeak) won the opener convincingly, and Trust Me A Lot (Trust The Artist) trekked from eighth to first to capture the finale, the last race of the year in Canada. Ellis racked up 36 victories at the Edmonton track this campaign. Nathan Sobey, who was blanked on the final card, finished second with 27.

Racing will continue at Century Mile on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 6:15 p.m. MST.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink