Unbeaten Saphire Blue shimmers in Emerald

Saphire Blue wired the Emerald Filly Pace first division harness racing field for her fourth undefeated career start on Sunday at Century Downs.

In line to Michael Hennessy, she left flat-out from post two and dueled with rail-sitter Metaki (Brandon Campbell) for command. The former relented quickly and Saphire Blue headed her eight rivals to the quarter mile pole in :29.3 and slowed further to the half in 1:00.3.

Two Fingers Gold (Paul Giesbrecht) fired first-over from fourth and forced an increased tempo from the leader, going to three-quarters in 1:28.2. Saphire Blue brushed aside that challenger as they angled into the last turn and left little work for Hennessy as the daughter of Vertical Horizon glided home for the 1:57.2 victory.

Hazels Wilding (Tyler Redwood) gained rapidly late for place. Metaki was third.

SAPHIRE BLUE REPLAY

Saphire Blue is perfect after four lifetime starts for trainer Harold Haining and owner Donald Richardson of Cochrane. The $10,000 ASHA Yearling Sale purchase has earned $42,250 lifetime.

Divine Art uncorked a devastating late burst in the final eighth after a bottled-up pocket trip and blew away her rivals in the second division of the race for two-year-old filly pacers.

The Outrageous Art filly settled into the pocket behind the fast-leaving Shoot The Whiskey (Brandon Campbell) and maintained position through :28.1, :58.2, and 1:26.1 splits. Nathan Sobey unleashed Divine Art’s move on the far turn when the outer flow stopped, and the leader broke stride under heavy urging.

Divine Art soared home from there, leaving her nearest rival seven and a quarter lengths behind as she hit the finish line in 1:55.3. Tin Foil Hat (Kelly Hoerdt) was best of the rest in second. Wrangler Jewel (Paul Giesbrecht) got up for show.

DIVINE ART REPLAY

It was a maiden-breaking victory for Divine Art in her fourth start. Sobey trains her for owners Robert Jones of Stony Plain, Diane Bertrand of Edmonton, and John Hind of Calgary. The filly debuted in a maiden at Century on Jul. 25, then entered the ASHA Filly Stake. She finished second in her elimination of that race and third in the $50,000 final.

Century Downs also hosted three divisions of the Rocky Mountain Boys stake for freshman male pacers.

Vegas Gambler, coming off a win in the $50,000 Century Casinos Pace, dominated in the first Rocky Mountain Boys split. He was first at each pole and crushed his rivals in a 1:56.1 score. Lamont resident Rodney Starkewski conditions the son of Mystery Chase and co-owns him with Clauzette Byckal of Onoway. The colt is now three-for-four lifetime after also winning his Century Casinos Pace elimination and finishing fifth in his Jul. 20 debut.

VEGAS GAMBLER REPLAY

Redstone Arsenal also led all the way in his division, reporting home a length clear in 1:57, a new lifetime mark. Hennessy drove for trainer Rodney Hennessy and owner Lorne Duffield of Edmonton. Duffield spent $23,000 on the Huntsville colt at the 2020 Harrisburg sale. The horse has won two of this three races to date and has earned $9,750.

REDSTONE ARSENAL REPLAY

Lets Tie One On used opposite tactics in his third division win, closing from fifth at three-quarters to take the victory by a neck in 1:58 under the guidance of trainer/driver Hoerdt. The son of Vertical Horizon has won both career starts. Hoerdt co-owns with Derek Gilbert of Brandon and Christopher Lancaster of Airdrie. They bought the colt for $6,000 from the ASHA Yearling Sale, and he has now brought in $9,750.

LETS TIE ONE ON REPLAY

Century Downs will host a Monday card on Aug. 30, consisting of 11 races. An Open Pace and a Fillies and Mares Open Pace headline the program, which will start at 2:15 p.m. MDT.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink