Off to a hot start in 2022 despite the sub-zero temperatures in Edmonton, Alta., Outlaw Gunsablazin won his second straight Open event at Century Mile while a pair of trainers sent out multiple dominant winners from their stables on Sunday (Jan. 9)
Sent postward as the 6-5 favourite in the featured top class with Jamie Gray in the sulky, Outlaw Gunsablazin was quick to cross to command from an outer post five and never looked back. The six-year-old Blue Burner gelding cruised through fractions of :30, :58.4 and 1:27.2 en route to a 2-1/2-length victory in 1:57 over the 'good' track.
After securing a pocket seat from the inside post, $16,000 claimer Munchie Chris (Jacques Lambert) prevailed in the race for place that ensued down the stretch after Crackle N Burn (Philip Giesbretch) had launched a first-over attack.
Outlaw Gunsablazin, who paid $4.50 to win, is now two-for-two this year after winning just one of his 17 starts in 2021. A career winner of 16 races lifetime, the multiple Alberta stakes-placed pacer has banked just over $180,000 for conditioner Rod Starkewski, who shares ownership with Clauzette Byckal of Onoway, Alta.
Trainers Chris Lancaster and Trevor Williams were on fire on Sunday afternoon, each sending out three winners during the 11-race card.
Team Lancaster swept the early Daily Double, with Nevada Vacation ($3.60) topping a 1-2 finish for the stable in the opener and 11-year-old pacer Portrstownchris IR ($3.10) winning the second race by more than 13 lengths. Claimed from the Williams stable off a victory last week, Pure Addition ($3.50) later capped off the training triple for Lancaster with another double-digit win margin in the ninth race. All three winners were driven by Philip Giesbrecht (who led all reinsmen on the day with a total of four victories).
Williams partnered with driver Brandon Campbell for his three triumphs. The first winner for the Manitoba horseman was in the fourth race as 11-year-old pacer Rock Absorber ($2.80) romped to a seven-length score fresh off a January 2 claim. Just Marvelous ($4.30) prevailed by a head in the sixth race and the streaking mare A Cowboys Dream ($3.90) followed with an 11-length blowout victory in the eighth dash.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Century Mile