Samba Beat gets first win on closing night

Samba Beat (Santanna Blue Chip) won the Preferred for his first win at the Century Mile harness racing meet on the track’s closing day on Saturday (Feb.4).

Phil Giesbrecht dropped the entire back to last of six in the :26.4 opening panel and sent him underway at the half in :54.2. Samba Beat quickly caught his first-over cover and swung three-wide as they moved through three-quarters in 1:23.3 and into the stretch. He chipped away at the leader down the stretch but flew clear with a final flurry to score in 1:52.3. Ernesto Delacruz (Jean Francois Gagne) headed Shark Week (Michael Hennessy) for third.

SAMBA BEAT REPLAY

Samba Beat has made every start at the Preferred level since July at Century Downs, where he will almost certainly return in March following the conclusion of the Edmonton oval’s Winter meet. He last won in October at Century Downs. His career record is 13-for-47 with $130,726 in earnings. Gerry Hudon trains the five-year-old and co-owns him with Monica Hudon of Sturgeon County and Calgary’s William Andrew.

Also on the card, Electric Amadeus (Rockin Amadeus) closed out the Winter stint at Century Mile with a victory, taking her meet record to 10-for-12. The mare won the Fillies and Mares Preferred 2 by a length in 1:55.3 to stay perfect in 2023 through five starts. Michael Miller steered the seven-year-old mare to the win for Brinsley Brooking Lutz of Calgary, who co-owns the mare with Harvey Jaeger of Airdrie.

ELECTRIC AMADEUS

David Kelly swept both titles for the meet as both leading driver and trainer. He finished on top of Century Mile’s drivers’ standings with 34 victories. Giesbrecht and Hennessy finished in a tie for second with 21 tallies each. Kelly was also the top conditioner with 26 wins, boosted by a closing night grand slam. Brooking Lutz’s win with Electric Amadeus moved her into second place.

Century Mile racing will return on Sep. 9. Alberta harness continues at Century Downs on Mar. 11.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barndsale, for Harnesslink