Cal Expo's Open pacing mares spread across the track down the stretch trying to catch the streaking Divine Art, but the Alberta-bred star found the wire just in time to score her 17th straight victory on Friday night (Feb. 10).
After leading her four foes through fractions of :27.4, :56.4 and 1:25.2 in the $7,500 distaff feature, Divine Art held on by a head as Give Me This Dance came flying late to make it a photo finish. The 1-9 favourite equalled her lifetime mark of 1:53.2 for trainer/driver Gerry Longo. I Will Do It rounded out the top three finish order.
Divine Art now boasts 21 wins from 27 starts lifetime with earnings totalling $330,483. The four-year-old Outrageous Art-Keystone Divine mare started her win streak with a dozen victories in Alberta before being acquired by Longo late last year and tacking on five more at the Sacramento, California oval.