Two weeks ago, on Oct. 14 at Century Mile, Byby Baby Byby and Outlawguns N Roses put on such a monumental performance in the Alberta Sires Stakes Starburst leg that it prompted Byby Baby Byby’s trainer Rod Hennessy to call it “one of the best miles paced in Western Canada by anyone.”
It was that good. Maybe better.
Furiously, the pair of two-year-old fillies battled down the entire stretch with the lead exchanging hands three times and culminated with Byby Baby Byby getting up in the very final strides to win in a two-year-old filly track record of a blazing 1:52.2.
You could have built a Walmart in between that precocious pair and the third-place finisher, CF Faline, who was more than 20 lengths behind Byby Baby Byby and Outlawguns N Roses.
Not only was the time a full second faster than the previous record set by Outlawguns N Roses on Sept. 23, it was also faster than the three-year-old filly record (1:52.3) set by Lady Neigh Neigh in 2019 and equalled the standard for aged mares at the time set earlier this fall by Stash The Cookies (the mares record has since been broken).
“Amazing,” said Rod Hennessy.
“You just don’t see that kind of a time for two-year-old fillies out here,” concurred Rod Starkewski, trainer and co-owner with Clauzette Byckal of Outlawguns N Roses. “It was Woodbine time.”
The pair will hook up again this Saturday in one of four enticing Super Final championships on the Century Mile card.
But, back to the Oct. 14 race.
“It was an amazing thing to see,” said Rod Hennessy. “I’ve watched that replay many times.”
Leaving from post five, Outlawguns N Roses, the 1-5 favourite, took the lead from the outset with Byby Baby Byby getting the railbird seat through an opening quarter in 27 seconds and a half in :55.3.
After three-quarters was reached in 1:24.1, Byby Baby Byby pulled and the battle was on.
At the eighth pole, Byby Baby Byby took a narrow lead. But Outlawguns N Roses was far from done and battled back on the inside to recapture the lead.
It still wasn’t over. Nostrils apart, with one final surge, 5-1 shot Byby Baby Byby -- almost hooking wheels -- took the lead for good winning by half a length.
“They were bouncing off each other,” said Rod Hennessy. “It was like they were playing ping pong or something.
“[Outlawguns N Roses] was afraid of the toteboard; mine was afraid of the people on the tarmac. They were both seeing things. But, that’s babies.
“It was two fillies fighting like a bat out of hell.”
Just past the wire, Outlawguns N Roses' driver Dave Kelly turned to Byby Baby Byby’s driver Mike Hennessy and yelled, “We just went in 1:52.”
“No way,” replied Mike Hennessy.
Then he looked at the infield timer and, astonished, replied, “Oh my God; I guess they did.”
“They are both more than awesome,” said Rod Hennessy. “It’s amazing.”
Prior to the Starburst, Byby Baby Byby and Outlawguns N Roses each won divisions of the Starlet on Sept. 23.
Byby Baby Byby won her division in 1:57; Outlawguns N Roses took her division in 1:53.2 to set the former record, winning by more than 15 lengths and prompting her favourite’s role.
After the Starburst, the pair met again in the Brad Gunn on Oct. 21. It was another match race. But this time it was different.
Byby Baby Byby took the lead this time; Outlawguns N Roses chased from right behind. At the quarter pole, Kelly pulled Outlawguns N Roses and another epic performance was on after fractions of :27.4, :57.2 and 1:26.4.
But then Outlawguns N Roses started to drift and drift and drift to the outside. By the time they reached the eighth pole, Outlawguns N Roses was very close to the outside fence.
“We tried a different bit on her that day and it didn’t work,” explained Starkewski. “We’ll be going back to the original bit on Saturday in the Super Finals.”
Outlawguns N Roses ended up prevailing by a length and a quarter in 1:54 after pacing her last quarter in a sensational 27 seconds flat.
“According to Mike, Byby Baby Byby was looking for Outlawguns N Roses, didn’t see her and got lost,” said Rod Hennessy. “She thought the race was all over and stopped trying.”
“I guess it was my turn,” shrugged Starkewski, whose filly has now paced her last three starts in 1:54 or better and five straight in 1:55 or better. “For a two-year-old, that’s something special.”
Starkewski bought Outlawguns N Roses privately from Connie Kolthammer’s Outlaw Stable in Falun, Alta.
By Captive Audience, Outlawguns N Roses is out of Gunslingin Gal making her a half sister to Outlaw Gunsablazin, who has won or placed in 42 of her 112 starts.
Byby Baby Byby is the second foal out of Ba Bye Ceia Later owned by Bryan Brook and Diane Hennessy. Ba Bye Ceia Later won a division of the Super Final consolations.
“They are both more than awesome,” said Rod Hennessy. “Both are Alberta-breds and I think that both of them can compete anywhere. They are both mature, strong big fillies.”
“Outlawguns N Roses doesn’t act like a two-year-old,” said Starkewski. “She acts like a mature three-year-old. She’s special. Very special. Class all the way.
"One more start to go. It’s been a long season.”
As for Saturday’s ‘one more start’ Super Final, Rod Hennessy said Rod Starkewski’s filly may be ‘a little stronger right now.’
“[Outlawguns N Roses] has raced a few more times than Byby Baby Byby. When Outlawguns N Roses was racing, my filly hadn’t even qualified. We took our time with Byby Baby Byby and so far it’s paid off.”
Byby Baby Byby and Outlawguns N Roses will both race Saturday and then will be turned out until next year.
“We’ll bubble wrap Outlawguns N Roses and hope she has two months of R&R without getting hurt,” said Starkewski. “I’ve had a lot of nice horses. But never one to do it this easily.”
“She’s got a giant motor,” Rod Hennessy said of Byby Baby Byby. “If she stays sound, she’s got a very promising future ahead of her. It’s the same with [Outlawguns N Roses]. Both have tremendous futures.”
The other three Super Finals on Saturday will be for two-year-old colts and geldings; another for three-year-old colts and geldings, which will feature a field similar to the Western Canada Pacing Derby with the likes of Derby winner Blue Star Mercury, Virtual Horizon, who raced huge after having to deal with his outside post and Derby runner-up Over The Horizon; and one for three-year-old fillies, which will have most of the entrants that contested the Century Casino Filly Pace.
There will also be four consolation Super Final races. First post on Saturday at Century Mile is 6:15 p.m. There is also Standardbred racing on Friday night.
To view Saturday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Century Mile.
(Curtis Stock / thehorses.com)