Virtual Horizon eyeing thirteenth straight win in ABSS Plainsmen

Century Mile will host a full 12-dash card featuring a pair of three-year-old Alberta-sired harness stake races. The fillies will line up in the ABSS Princess final while the boys have their chance in the ABSS Plainsmen.

The talk of the town has been Virtual Horizon (Vertical Horizon), who has won 12 races in a row and aims for his fifth stake final win this year.

Here’s a preview of the card.

RACE 11: ABSS PLAINSMEN THREE-YEAR-OLD COLTS AND GELDINGS FINAL – $56,300

1. Mister Moose (8-1)
2. Blue Star Mercury (6-1)
3. General Custard (4-1)
4. Virtual Horizon (3-5)
5. The Dickens (10-1)
6. Tin Can Timmy (10-1)
7. Up Yer Kilt (20-1)
8. Over The Horizon (5-2)
9. Opulent Dragon (12-1)

Virtual Horizon has to lose at some point, but it shouldn’t happen on Saturday, and he will charge to his 13th win straight win. He is perfect in 2023, and it doesn’t matter what post position he draws or the size or oval he is pacing on. A win on Saturday will put Virtual Horizon over $200,000 in 2023 earnings and over $300,000 in career earnings.

Over The Horizon (Vertical Horizon) is the one who is the most primed to make the upset on Saturday. He has back-to-back wins heading into this final and an impressive record over the last eight starts. Over that period, he has four wins and four second-place finishes. A stint like that would usually be discussed, but Virtual Horizon has overshadowed it. Having Over The Horizon in all multi-race wagers would be an intelligent play.

To round out my top three, I will add General Custard (Custard The Dragon) to the mix. He has finished in the top three in every start this year but one. The one hiccup happened on May 27, but he has been steady since. His mile times are on pace with the rest of the field and could be in a good spot if Virtual Horizon or Over The Horizon have their own misstep.

My Picks: 4-8-3

RACE 9: ABSS PRINCESS FINAL THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLIES – $55,100

1. G Ts Skyla (4-5)
2. My Little Chloe (20-1)
3. Outlaw Encore (12-1)
4. Beep Bop A Lula (8-1)
5. Outlawabovenbeyond (4-1)
6. Riskofthunderstorm (10-1)
7. You Promyst (5-2)
8. Dear John Im Gone (10-1)
9. Caviar N Crackers (6-1)

 AE1 Rezies Gal                                           

G Ts Skyla (Mystician) has been the three-year-old queen of Alberta this year and will look to continue her dominance on Saturday. She has won 7 times in 9 starts this year and has never finished worse than second place. She finished last week’s second in the elimination just by a head to You Promyst. G Ts Skyla will bounce back this week while having drawn the rail.

Even though You Promyst (Mystician) won last weekend, she will finish just behind G Ts Skyla this time, but it would be worth it to have both on your Pick 5 ticket. You Promyst has back-to-back wins and will be looking to earn her fourth career win. She has finished on the trifecta ticket nine times in eleven career starts, so she knows how to finish near the front end.

Some attention needs to be given to Beep Bop A Lula (Vertical Horizon) in this one. She has four wins in 2023 and has finished in the top three ten times. She is another one who knows how to finish near the top end. She has had trouble since making the move to Century Mile but was able to get a win a couple of weeks ago. Beep Bop A Lula shows up in big-time races as she finished second place in the previous two ABSS leg finals. Let’s see if she can do it again.

My Picks: 1-7-4

Century Mile’s Saturday card kicks off at 5:15 p.m. MDT.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink