There was no catching the favourites in a pair of $25,000 Premiers Pace divisions for two-year-old Alberta owned, sired or foaled colts on Saturday afternoon at Northlands Park as they dominated their divisions by a combined 13 and a quarter lengths
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Leading the way with a 10 length margin of victory was Smooth Criminal and trainer-driver Connie Kolthammer. The gelded son of Blue Burner-Gunslingin Gal left from Post 5 and cruised past fractions of :28.2, :59 and 1:28.4 en route to victory in 1:56.4, just missing Barona Ice's freshman gelding track record by one-fifth of a second. Mjjz R Us (Brent Grundy) and Cowboy Caper (Kelly Hoerdt) were second and third respectively.
Smooth Criminal paid $3.40 to win. Owned by the Outlaw Stable of Falun, Alta., Smooth Criminal has won four races in nine starts this year while banking $54,416. He finished second to the other Premier Pace winner, Wrangler Betonme, in the Alberta Sires Stakes Super Final on Oct. 22.
Wrangler Betonme fired to command from the outside Post 8 in the following division and carved out fractions of :27, :57.4 and 1:28.2 en route to his three and a quarter length victory in 1:57.1 for driver Bill Tainsh Jr. and trainer Glenda Smith. Somethinsgoinon (Keith Clark) and Outlaw Beacon (Don Monkman Jr.) finished second and third.
Wrangler Betonme paid $2.50 to win. The As Promised-Ja El Shamrock colt has won his last eight of nine starts for breeders Dr. Maurice and Maureen Stewart of Leduc, Alta., who share ownership with Lyle and Sandy Reid of Sherwood Park, Alta. His lifetime earnings climbed to $97,710.
For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Northlands Park.