Saphire Blue drops mark in first Edmonton win

Saphire Blue (Vertical Horizon), a regular at Calgary’s Century Downs in her first two seasons, made her first visit to the winner’s circle at Century Mile in Edmonton on Friday (Dec. 16) in a lifetime-best harness racing effort in the Fillies and Mares Preferred.

Coming off a place finish in the Century Casino Filly Pace, the filly flew over the snow-laden track to take command before entering the first turn. She held the lead until Stash The Cookies (Logan Gillis) rushed by her just past the quarter in :28.3. The latter controlled the tempo through middle fractions of :57.1 and 1:26.1.

Saphire Blue swung to the outside for Phil Giesbrecht at the top of the stretch and quickly dispatched the leader. She then hurried home with a host of horses in her wake to score by a length in 1:55.1.

Shoot The Whiskey (Jamie Gray) won the race for second. L A Woman (Nathan Sobey) finished third.

SAPHIRE BLUE REPLAY

Saphire Blue has won nine of her 26 lifetime starts and has earned $121,384 for Donald Richardson of Cochrane. Harold Haining trains the filly.

Racing continues at Century Mile on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 6:15 p.m. MST.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink