A total of seven Alberta Sires Stakes (ABSS) eliminations went postward at Century Downs on Saturday (July 15) with three for the ABSS Marquis, for sophomore pacing fillies, and four for the ABSS Maverick, for sophomore pacing colts and geldings.
Virtual Horizon (pictured above) stayed unbeaten this season from eight starts with a 1:54 victory in the final $7,500 elimination for the ABSS Maverick. Trainer-driver Brandon Campbell cleared command with the 1-5 favourite through a :28.2 first quarter and endured first-over pressure from General Custard through a :58.1 half and a sprint to three-quarters, timed in 1:25.4. General Custard continued grinding into Virtual Horizon through the lane, but the Vertical Horizon colt held his ground to take a head win with Rum N Raisins another five lengths behind in third. Virtual Horizon races for owners Jodi Loftus, George Rogers and Raymond Henry. He returned $2.30 to win.
Another 1-5 shot opened the eliminations for the ABSS Maverick when pylon-starter Over The Horizon rolled to a 1:56.1 effort. Driven by trainer Nate Sobey, Over The Horizon carved a clip of :29, :58.1 and 1:27.2 to snag a 2-1/4-length victory over pocket-sitter Catfish Jack with HF Devan James taking third via a placing as a result of first-over challenger Shots Fired making a lapped-on break at the finish. Sobey co-owns Over The Horizon, a colt by Vertical Horizon, with Keith Clark and Robert T. Jones. He paid $2.30 to win.
Off-the-pace tactics planted 6-5 favourite Imyourhuckleberry in the winner’s circle of the second ABSS Maverick elimination. Tin Can Timmy torched from the pylon post to a :26.4 first quarter before yielding command to Reach Out, who carried his speed to a :54.4 half before growing leg weary to the backstretch. The Dickens led the overland charge to circumvent the tiring leader and had Imyourhuckleberry in tow scooting by three-quarters in 1:25.1. Driver Thomas Michael Miller swung Imyourhuckleberry off cover into the lane and slid clear to a 2-3/4-length win in 1:55.4 over 22-1 Ponder No Longer in second while Tin Can Timmy got shuffled and rallied to take third. Glenn Lutz trains and co-owns the winning colt by Westwardho Hanover with Janine Lutz. He paid $4.60 to win.
Odds-on favourite Mickie Mantle also scored in ABSS Maverick action, taking the third elimination in 1:54. The colt by Custard The Dragon led coast to coast through splits of :27.3, :57 and 1:25.3 to seal victory by 2-1/2 lengths over pocket-sitter Blue Star Mercury with Mister Moose another three lengths behind in third. Trainer-driver Kelly Hoerdt co-owns Mickie Mantle with Fred Gilbert. The colt paid $2.20 to win.
Beep Bop A Lula opened action for the ABSS Marquis, winning the first $8,300 elimination. She led pillar to post to record a 1:54.4 victory by a length after setting a tempo of :28.1, :57.2 and 1:26.1 to ready her for the far-turn challenge from odds-on favourite Caviar N Crackers into the lane. Caviar N Crackers settled for second, beaten a length, with pocket-sitter Nonversation third. Trainer-driver Dave Kelly co-owns Beep Bop A Lula, a daughter of Vertical Horizon, with Donald and Daniel McDougall. She paid $6 to win.
Pocket-sitter Beach Myst popped to a 1:57.2 victory in the second ABSS Marquis elimination. Cenalta Token led the field through splits of :28.4, :57.3 and 1:26.4, but trainer-driver Kelly Hoerdt had Beach Myst poised to pounce in the lane and the filly by Mystician kicked home to secure a 1-3/4-length win with Waitinonawoman third. Hoerdt co-owns Beach Myst with Gabrielle Dumoulin. She paid $6.60 to win.
G Ts Skyla romped in the final ABSS Marquis elimination with a 1:55 mile. Driver Logan Gillis grabbed the lead with G Ts Skyla through a :28.4 first quarter and began drawing away from her competition into a :57.1 half. By three-quarters in 1:25.1, G Ts Skyla opened seven lengths on closest pursuer Riskofthunderstorm circling the final turn and strolled home to post a 4-3/4-length win as the 2-5 favourite. Cora Cora Cora took second from Riskofthunderstorm in third. Scott McGinn trains and co-owns G Ts Skyla, a daughter of Mystician, with Gerald McGinn, Marjorie McGinn and Terry McGinn. She paid $2.80 to win.
With his victories in stakes eliminations, Kelly Hoerdt recorded a training hat trick on the afternoon.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results – Century Downs.