Three-year-olds complete stakes elims at Century

Six eliminations went to post on Saturday (Sep. 10) at Century Downs for major Alberta Sires Stakes harness racing events for pacing three-year-olds.

Daisy Corvette (Mystician) scored in 1:55.2 with Nathan Sobey at the lines in the first elimination of the ABSS Marquis for fillies. She was a length-and-three-quarters clear of Wrangler Jewel (Jean Francois Gagne). Lost In The Moment (Brandon Campbell) was well back in third.

DAISY CORVETTE REPLAY

The victory was Daisy Corvette’s fourth career win in 12 tries, and it upped her bankroll to $40,747. She debuted this year at three for owners Keith Clark of Foothills and Archie Benekos of Calgary. Sobey trains the filly.

Goodbye Ceia Later (Vertical Horizon) did it the hard way in the second elim. She marched first-up from the second quarter for Michael Hennessy and eventually vanquished Jamaica Move (Kelly Hoerdt) to win in 1:55.3. The latter was second by three-quarters of a length. Saphire Blue (Campbell) took show.

GOODBYE CEIA LATER

Rodney Hennessy trains Goodbye Ceia Later for owner/breeders Bryan Brook of Leduc and Diane Hennessy of Falun. The filly’s Saturday clocking was a career best in her 23rd start. She has won five times and has earned $31,914.

Divine Art (Outrageous Art, Sobey) fired three-wide in the final quarter and gained unwaveringly to the line to get up for the victory in 1:54.3.

Katie Lou (Campbell) took over just before three-quarters but could not hold the lead and finished second. Chaste Forever (Hoerdt) was third.

DIVINE ART REPLAY

Sobey also trains Divine Art, who has now won 10 times in 16 outings. She captured the Gord and Illa Rumpel Memorial last out and is on a four-race win streak. She has raked in $171,377 for owners Robert Jones of Stony Plain, Diane Bertrand of Lake Country, and John Hind of Calgary.

So Strange (Custard The Dragon) upset with a late rally from the three-hole for Jamie Gray in 1:54.4 in the first ABSS Maverick elimination for males. He got by Knockin Boots (Tyler Redwood) and was a length-and-a-half clear at the line. Joe Rich (Campbell) finished third.

SO STRANGE REPLAY

Gray took over training of So Strange for owners Fred and Derek Gilbert of Brandon on Aug. 1. The horse is four-for-24 lifetime and has earned $44,831. He was third in the Alberta Sires Stakes Super Final last season.

Ernesto Delacruz (Vertical Horizon, Jean-Francois Gagne) was never headed and cruised to a three-and-a-quarter-length victory in 1:53.3 in the second split. Kill A Dragon (Campbell) held off You Can Have Itall (Gray) for place.

ERNESTO DELACRUZ REPLAY

Gagne, a resident of Wetaskiwin, trains Ernesto Delacruz, whom he owns and bred with Peter Van Seggelen of Heritage Point. The gelding has earned $98,228 and won seven times in 17 career starts. He won the Moore’s Mile Breeders Stake earlier this season.

Vegas Gambler (Mystery Chase), fresh off his victory in the Ralph Klein Memorial, went all the way in the final group with Phil Giesbrecht in the bike. He stopped the clock in 1:54.2 while a length clear of the closing Matts A Mystician (Sobey). Order One To Go (Gray) stormed home for show.

VEGAS GAMBLER REPLAY

Vegas Gambler has won three straight and 10 of his 20 career attempts. He has earned $151,026. Rodney Starkewski trains the colt and co-owns him with Clauzette Byckal of Onoway.

The $50,000A finals of the ABSS Marquis and Maverick are set for Saturday, Sep. 11 at Century Downs.

The track’s next race date is scheduled for Tuesday, Sep. 13.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink