Rookies hit the track at Century Downs on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 1) in three divisions of the $51,000 Alberta Sires Stakes Shooting Star, for pacing colts and geldings, and in two divisions of the $50,400 ABSS Stardust, for pacing fillies.
Tin Can Timmy took top honours in the Shooting Star, posting the fastest win of the three splits with a 1:55.4 mile. The colt by BJs Bequia sat third as Ponder No Longer took the lead by a :28.3 first quarter and carved middle sectionals of :57.4 and 1:26.3. Driver Logan Gillis then angled Tin Can Timmy off the pegs coming for home and reeled in Ponder No Longer to win by a length. Reach Out finished third and Artician closed for fourth.
A homebred for Stephen Crump, Tin Can Timmy has won three races from six starts and has now earned $22,150. Kelly Crump conditions the $4.40 winner.
Trainer-driver Brandon Campbell sent Virtual Horizon to the lead and turned away all challengers to win the second Shooting Star in 1:56.1. Leaving from post six, the Vertical Horizon colt raced unchallenged through opening splits of :29 and :59.4. With that soft first half, Imyourhuckleberry launched from the pocket up the backside to match strides with Virtual Horizon to three-quarters in 1:28.1. But Virtual Horizon hit the motor around the final turn and scooted clear of his competition in the stretch to win by 3-1/4 lengths with Imyourhuckleberry second. Over The Horizon settled for third and Panda Beer finished another four lengths behind in fourth.
Virtual Horizon races for owners Jodi Loftus, George Rogers and Raymond Henry. He won his second race from five starts, has now earned $48,838 and paid $3.80 to win.
Similar speed tactics landed The Dickens in the winner's circle of the final Shooting Star division. Yielding the lead to Pop N Like Pez to a :28.3 first quarter, driver J. F. Gagne circled The Dickens back to the point and cruised from there through a :58.4 half and 1:27 three-quarters to stop the clock in 1:57.3. Cenalta Duramax closed for second, beaten 1-1/2 lengths, with Lumber Baron stalling from a first-over bid in third and One Major Hottie finishing fourth.
Donna Sarin trains The Dickens for owner-breeder 8113564 Canada Ltd. He won his second race from six starts, has now banked $20,338 and paid $4.10 to win.
The speed collapsed in the first Stardust division, aiding closer Caviar N Crackers to pull a 19-1 upset in 1:57.2. The daughter of Captive Audience raced sixth while 1-5 favourite G Ts Skyla strode through a :28.3 first quarter and :57.3 half. Driver Mike Hennessy tipped Caviar N Crackers wide heading toward three-quarters in 1:26.3 and kept grinding up the rim around the turn while G Ts Skyla shortened in stride. Turning for home, Caviar N Crackers swooped past G Ts Skyla and extended to a three-length victory while Amped Up Annie took third and Captivatethecrowd finished fourth.
Rod Starkewski owns and trains Caviar N Crackers, a homebred for him who's won two races from four starts and has earned $16,050. She returned $40.70 to win.
While speed failed in the first Stardust split, it prevailed in the second when Promise Kept sealed a 1:57.3 front-stepping score by 3-1/4 lengths. Trainer-driver Brandon Campbell cleared command with the Custard The Dragon filly to a :29.1 first quarter and faced no pressure from there, posting a 1:00 half and accelerating to three-quarters in 1:28.1. She opened her lead coming for home as Cora Cora Cora closed off stalled cover to take second with pocket-sitter Cenalta Token settling for third and Tina La Vida finishing fourth.
Promise Kept won her fourth race from five starts and added to her bankroll now worth $56,150. She competes for owners Jodi Loftus, George Rogers and Raymond Henry and returned $3.30 to win.
A $13,500 Preferred Pace went to gate on the undercard and saw Samba Beat visit the winner's circle off a pocket-popping score in 1:52.2. Driver Phil Giesbrecht sat patiently with the four-year-old Santanna Blue Chip stallion while odds-on favourite Shark Week led through splits of :27, :56.3 and 1:24.1. With all the work done, Samba Beat struck when the iron cooled and slid to a three-quarter-length win with Crackle N Burn closing for third. Gerry Hudon trains and co-owns the 12-time winner and earner of $105,856 with partners Monica Hudon and William Andrew. He paid $25.20 to win.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.