Stash The Cookies snags third straight

Stash The Cookies (Sunfire Blue Chip) succeeded in the Fillies and Mares Preferred Pace at Century Downs for the third straight week despite a tactical change in the Friday (Jul. 22) harness racing renewal.

After leading all the way the week prior, driver/trainer Logan Gillis sent the mare back to last as Century Mach (Kelly Hoerdt) paced the opening quarter in :27.4 over the sloppy surface. Gillis made his move onto the cover of Betcha Baby (J. Brandon Campbell), who moved first-up just before the half in :56.4.

Stash The Cookies had too much pace to be bottled up, and she rocketed to the front after tipping three-wide on the backstretch. The four-year-old set a three-quarter time of 1:26 and streaked away entering the stretch. Her big lead dwindled to late closers, but she finished two-and-a-quarter lengths in front in 1:55.3.

If Only Id Known (Michael Hennessy) nabbed Past Affair (David Kelly) for second. The winner returned $7.40.

STASH THE COOKIES REPLAY

Stash The Cookies has now won three Preferred-level races in a row at Century Downs. Derek Gilbert of Brandon acquired her a day before her Jul. 15 victory. The mare, who won the 2019 Gord and Illa Rumpel Memorial, is now 17-for-61 lifetime and has earned $186,729.

Century Downs continues racing on Saturday, Jul. 23 with a 2:15 p.m. MDT first post.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink