Giesbrecht stars on all-stakes Sunday

Driver Phil Giesbrecht entered the winner’s circle five times on the 11-race all-stakes harness racing card at Century Downs on Sunday.

Six Alberta Sires Stakes (ABSS) divisions and five eliminations filled the program.

Giesbrecht caught fire with four straight victories from races three to six, including all three divisions of the ABSS Rising Star, and won his fifth in the ABSS Marquis. Recaps of all races are below.

ABSS Maverick first elimination – three-year-old pacing colts and geldings

Bonus Round passed all five opponents in the final quarter, putting a nose in front with his final step of the race. The three-year-old Santanna Blue Chip colt notched his second career win in 1:58.2 for driver and trainer David Kelly. Pick 6 Stable of Strathmore purchased the colt for $8,200 from the ASHA Yearling Sale. He’s two-for-twelve in his debut year with $21,665 in earnings.

Lovin Up On You (Brandon Campbell) and Litizor (Jamie Gray) finished second and third, respectively in the three-across win photo.

BONUS ROUND REPLAY

ABSS Maverick second elimination

Shark Week flew out from post seven early and was never headed after making the lead. Driver Michael Hennessy stole :29.1 and :29.2 middle splits, and Shark Week had plenty of pace remaining to put away his rivals. Rodney Hennessy trains the Vertical Horizon colt and shares ownership with Lorne Duffield of Edmonton. They spent $6,000 on the horse at the ASHA sale. To date, Shark Week has won eight of his 14 starts and has earned $81,094. He’s five-for-nine this season.

Solid Silver (David Kelly) finished two and three quarter lengths behind in second. Favourite Codename Cigar Box (Kelly Hoerdt), coming off a victory in the $50,000 Moores Mile Breeders’ Stake, was third.

SHARK WEEK REPLAY

ABSS Maverick third elimination

Samba Beat took the top spot in the first quarter but allowed the heavily favoured Dragon Energy (Nathan Sobey) to pass in the second panel. Giesbrecht remained patient and began his assault on the far turn, which Samba Beat successfully executed as he dispatched Dragon Energy and held off a closing Tajmania (Michael Hennessy) for a 1:56 win. Samba Beat, who debuted this year, is now four-for-11 lifetime. Gerry Hudon trains the Santanna Blue Chip colt and co-owns him with Monica Hudon of Sturgeon County and William Andrew of Calgary.

Tajmania missed by a head. Dragon Energy, who won the 2021 ABSS Super Final for his division, faded two lengths back as he finished third.

SAMBA BEAT REPLAY

The qualifying horses from the ABSS Maverick will compete for the $40,000 added finals on Sep. 19.

ABSS Rising Star first division – two-year-old pacing colts and geldings – total purse $51,300

Farasthe Eyecansee was a mild upset at 7-1. He took a seat in the pocket after a hung-out first quarter and found an opening to the outside at the mouth of the final turn, which he dashed into and rolled by leader Joe Rich (Kelly) to take the victory. Giesbrecht drove Farasthe Eyecansee, a son of Vertical Horizon to his maiden-breaking win for trainer Jacques Lambert, who co-owns with Miguel Lambert of Clarseholm and Doug Hines of Black Diamond. The $3,200 ASHA Yearling Sale purchase set an initial lifetime mark of 1:58.4 with the score.

Chuck You Farlie (Hoerdt) took place over Joe Rich.

FARASTHE EYECANSEE REPLAY

ABSS Rising Star second division

Needabankloan led from start to finish for Giesbrecht, hanging on by a nose over a determined Ladner Lad (Gray). It was Needabankloan’s first career victory in six starts. Lambert trains and co-owns his homebred son of Toucam Sam with Richard Scott, a resident of McCreary.

Ladner Lad lost the photo and was second. Joe Dimagio (Hoerdt) also gained late, finishing third by three quarters of a length.

NEEDABANKLOAN REPLAY

ABSS Rising Star third division

Giesbrecht reused the previous race’s tactics, urging Vegas Gambler to the front. The 1/9 favourite performed as expected, cruising through the mile to a two-and-three-quarter-length victory in 1:57. Owner/trainer Rodney Starkewski has conditioned the Mystery Chase colt to four wins in five career starts, including the $50,000 Century Casinos Pace. Clauzette Byckal of Onoway shares ownership. The pair purchased him from the ASHA Yearling Sale for $24,000.

Prairie Pursuit (Richard Remillard) followed the winner throughout, finishing second. So Strange (Kelly) held his third position at every call.

NEEDABANKLOAN REPLAY

ABSS Starlet first division – two-year-old pacing fillies – total purse $52,500

The judges declared the race a no contest due to a fall from Ventimatchalatte (Hoerdt) in the first quarter which caused the field to slow down on the final turn. The filly broke stride while travelling through the first turn and fell over sideways will swerving wide away from her opponents. The race continued as normal until the final turn, when the drivers slowed their mounts to ensure they avoided Ventimatchalatte, who was still down on the track. Announcer Murray Slough called that the horse returned to her feet and walked back to the paddock. Hoerdt was seen standing on the broadcast and continued driving. No further information is available on the condition of the horse at this time.

REPLAY

ABSS Starlet second division

Tin Foil Hat made the winning move at the quarter pole when he brushed to the front. Hoerdt guided the Custard The Dragon filly to her maiden win from there, and she crossed the line a winner by a length and quarter in 1:59. Hoerdt also trains and co-owns her with Blair Corbeil of Beaumont and Fred Gilbert of Brandon. Tin Foil Hat, a $16,500 BC Sale purchase, has made three starts so far.

Second-place finisher Two Fingers Gold (Giesbrecht) was the only close rival. Proud Of My Roots (David Kelly) was 17 and a quarter lengths back from the winner in third. The race featured another accident: Lost In The Moment (Tyler Redwood) fell while passing the grandstand. Slough announced after the race that the horse got back to her feet. Redwood raced later in the card.

TIN FOIL HAT REPLAY

ABSS Starlet third division

Jamaica Move reeled in a runaway leader to win, staying tenacious in the stretch in a two-move effort that was clocked in 1:58.2. Hoerdt drove the Vertical Horizon filly, whom he trains and owns with Ralph Morrow of Cartwright. Jamaica Move is now two-for-four lifetime; she won her elimination of the ASHA Filly Pace in her debut. She cost $8,000 at the ASHA Yearling Sale.

Cozey Up (Campbell) surged in the final eighth to take the place cheque. Goodbye Ceia Later (Giesbrecht) finished third.

JAMAICA MOVE REPLAY

ABSS Marquis first elimination – three-year-old pacing fillies

The heavily favoured Burning Hot sailed to a three-and-a-half-length score in 1:56.3 after grinding to the front in the first quarter. Giesbrecht was restrained with his urging as the Blue Burner filly pulled him to victory. Starkewski trains and bred the filly that he co-owns with Byckal. Burning Hot has won 10 times and has amassed $146,312 in earnings in 18 career starts. The highlight of her 2021 season has been a win in the $74,280 Gord and Illa Rumpel Memorial on Aug. 1. She won her division’s ABSS Super Final as a two-year-old.

Outtheresomehwere (Kelly) finished second in a photo with Jack N Diane (Gray), who took third. Sent By Angels (Campbell) was a further five and three quarter lengths back in fourth, a quarter length ahead of Senga Nightmare (Ryan Grundy).

BURNING HOT REPLAY

ABSS Marquis second elimination

Graceful Horizon capitalized on a pocket trip to upset Exotic Dragon (Nathan Sobey). Hoerdt slotted the former, a daughter of Vertical Horizon, into the two-hole, and she flew by Exotic Dragon when asked in the stretch. Graceful Horizon is now eight-for-13 lifetime with an $83,032 bankroll. Christopher Lancaster trains her and owns with Derek Gilbert of Brandon and Velda Olding of Abbotsford. The filly was sold for $9,000 at the ASHA Yearling Sale.

Exotic Dragon was two and a half lengths short in second. Outlaw Spiced Rum (Nathan Sobey) finished third. Outlaw Endofanera (Redwood) and A Private Affair (Campbell) completed the top five.

GRACEFUL HORIZON REPLAY

The $40,000 added final will be held on Sep. 19.

Trainer Michael Campbell took home awards for the Champion three-year-old Alberta Sires Stakes, Champion three-year-old Colt or Gelding, Champion Aged Mare, Fastest Boy, Trainer of the Year, and Horse of the Year.

Century Downs returns to action on Sunday, Sep. 19.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink