Six-year-old mare takes first Preferred win

Outlaw Blue Isle (Blue Burner) reached the top of the Century Downs class ladder on Friday (Apr. 19) as the mare won the Fillies and Mares Preferred for the first time.

Dave Kelly decided to make her the one to catch and sent her to the lead, traveling beyond If Only Id Known to take over before the quarter in :28.1. Outlaw Blue Isle reached the half in :57.4 but was soon faced the first-over Daisy Corvette (Logan Gillis).

Daisy Corvette hustled the leader to a 1:26 three-quarters but was repelled to a deficit of three lengths turning for home. If Only Id Known took her shot coming down the stretch, but Outlaw Blue Isle held her off by a half-length for the victory in 1:54.4.

If Only Id Known was second, followed by Daisy Corvette.

OUTLAW BLUE ISLE REPLAY

Outlaw Blue Isle is now 11-for-81 lifetime and has earned $97,196. She had three prior starts at the Preferred level, including her outing last week, in which she finished second. Kelly trains the mare and co-owns her with Donald McDougall of Calgary.

Also on the card, Outlawabovenbeyond (Captive Audience) won her fourth straight race to start the year in a three-and-a-quarter-length romp. The four-year-old stopped the clock in 1:55.4 for driver Mike Hennessy and trainer Rodney Starkewski. The victory was her eighth lifetime in 15 starts, and it expanded her career earnings to $36,087. Starkewski co-owns her with Clauzette Byckal of Onoway.

OUTLAWABOVENBEYOND REPLAY

Kelly ended the day with four driving wins.

Century Downs continues its racing schedule on Saturday, Apr. 20 at 12:45 p.m. MDT with a 10-race card.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink