Century Downs hosted a slew of sires stakes events for two-year-old pacers on its Saturday, September 9 program.
Screen Test was a wire-to-wire winner for driver Bill Tainsh, Jr. After battling to the quarter with Freedoms Rescue, the gelding rolled the field through middle splits of :59.4 and 1:28.1 before using a :29.4 closing panel to prevail by three-quarter lengths over Freedoms Rescue in 1:58. Snap Test took home third prize in the five-horse affair.
Sent off as the 1-2 favourite, the two-year-old son of Vertical Horizon out of Starring Role won his third race in six starts for owner-trainer Dan Sifert and partner William Andrew. The home bred pushed his lifetime earnings over $20,000 with the win.
Custards Laststand powered to the lead from post 7, progressing to a career-best clocking of 1:56.4 for trainer-driver Kelly Hoerdt.
The son of Custard The Dragon hustled the field through panels of :28.4, :59.2 and 1:27.4 before kicking home in :29 to win by a quarter length over Its A Great White. Favourite Tap The Keg was third.
Sent off at 6-1, Custards Laststand won his second race in four starts for Hoerdt and partner Blair Corbeil. He has earned over $20,000.
Outlaw True Grit brushed to the top at the quarter pole, going on to win in 1:56.4.
Real Sharp sped to the quarter in :29.3 before Outlaw True Grit and driver Bill Tainsh, Jr. commandeered control. The gelding laid down middle fractions of 1:00 and 1:28.2 before finishing them off with a :28.2 final quarter to win by two-and-a-half lengths over Paradise Hill. Real Sharp settled for third.
Sent off as the 1-5 choice, the son of Blue Burner out of Gunslingin Gal won his third in a row for trainer-co-owner Rod Starkewski and partner Clauzette Byckal, earning over $30,000 in six starts.
Popping the pocket, Cusdmagicdragon edged past pacesetter Ginger Beer to win the first division of the ABSS Two-Year-Old Filly Pace in 1:58.4.
Stalking splits of :29.3, 1:01, and 1:29.3, trainer-driver Kelly Hoerdt moved to challenge Ginger Beer in the stretch, sliding a head in front of the 2-5 favourite while Nice Aint My Color circled wide of horses to take third and Custard Lite took fourth.
By Custard The Dragon out of the Rocknroll Hanover mare Rockumentary, Cusdmagicdragon won broke her maiden winning for owners Kelly Hoerdt and Blair and Erna Corbeil. She paid $10.40 to win.
Brushing by 7-5 favourite Maid In Alberta, Bearcat Josi blew away her competition, winning by six-and-a-half lengths in the other division of the Two-Year-Old Filly Pace, timed in 1:57.4.
Sitting third through fractions of :29 and :58.3, Bearcat Josi rushed to the lead down the backstretch, kicking away by three lengths at three-quarters in 1:28.2 while Maid In Alberta chased in second. Roaring Home circled by Maid In Alberta through the stretch while Bearcat Josi maintained her open-length lead, settling for second while Maid In Alberta checked in third.
By Blue Burner out of the Brandons Cowboy mare Barona Josie, Bearcat Josi won her third race in five starts, earning $29,275 for owner Derek Stout. Trained by Douglas Stout and driven by Bill Tainsh, Jr., she paid $5.10.
In the $9,000 Open Pace, Iwontdothatagain rallied from off cover to romp as the even-money favourite in 1:53.3.
Iwontdothatagain got away fifth in the early going while Cool Cowboy shot to the top and set fractions of :27.2, :57.2 and 1:25.1. Metajka Road came first-over on the way to the mid-way point, and Iwontdothatagain was pursued from second over. Iwontdothatagain made a three-wide move at the three-quarter pole for trainer-driver Kelly Hoerdt, progressing to win by five-and-three-quarter lengths over Cool Cowboy in 1:53.3. Da Magician was third.
Hoerdt shares ownership on the son of Stonebridge Regal out of Island Nessie with Ed Keryliuk. The victory was the 12th of the season for the 18-time winner who now boasts a career bankroll that stands at $119,206.
Kelly Hoerdt completed a training grand slam with Kokanee Seelster in a $7,700 conditioned pace, winning as the odds-on favourite in a track-record performance of 1:51.4, lowering the previous mark of 1:52.1 for aged pacing geldings.
Getting away second through a :26.4 first quarter, Kokanee Seelster tipped first over moving to the half, matching strides with leader Outlaw Deacon Jim through a :55.2 split. Kokanee Seelster then sprinted away from his competition, opening a five-length lead at three-quarters in 1:22.4 before cruising to a four-and-three-quarter length victory in 1:51.4.
Winning his 13th race in 56 starts, Kokanee Seelster, a four-year-old gelding by Camluck out of the Bettors Delight mare Kiddie Cocktail, has earned $140,942. Owned by trainer Kelly Hoerdt with partner Blair Corbeil and driven by Bill Tainsh, Jr., he paid $2.50 to win.
To view results for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results – Century Downs.