Sitting the pocket, Hottieonthehorizon edged off the cones and dug into pacesetter Rockin Mystery to go the quickest mile of the three $7,500 Alberta Diamond eliminations with a 1:55.4 victory on Saturday, July 6 at Century Downs.
The three-year-old Vertical Horizon filly ducked into the pocket as Rockin Mystery posted a :27.3 first quarter. She continued unchallenged through a :57 half but faced pressure when Hottieonthehorizon vacated the pocket moving towards three-quarters in 1:26. June Morning, from fifth, ranged three wide into the final turn to also challenge for the lead turning for the finish. Hottieonthehorizon gradually cut into her deficit nearing the finish and got a neck up on Rockin Mystery at the wire while June Morning settled for third.
Co-owned by trainer-driver Kelly Hoerdt with partners Leslie Godlien and Richard Lancaster, Hottieonthehorizon won her fifth race from 10 starts this season and her sixth from 18 overall, $63,223. She paid $3.70 to win.
Odds-on favourite Mrs Suhwiggins wired her competition in the following race, winning the second elimination in 1:56.3. The daughter of Custard The Dragon set fractions of :29, :59.4 and 1:27.4 on the lead while facing minor first-over pressure from Cenalta Glory past the half. Driver Paul Davies opened the Amy Henry trainee’s lead in the stretch to win by two-and-a-half lengths over pocket-sitter Summer Fantasy. Cenalta Glory held third.
Racing for the J J J Stables, Mrs Suhwiggins won her first race from six starts this season and her fifth from 14 overall, earning $87,100. She paid $2.90 to win.
Driver Rene Goulet ripped off the speed in the final elimination with Paloma Ruiz to post a 6-1 score in 1:57.1. The Darryl Cutting-trained daughter of Trust The Artist sat seventh to a :28.1 opening quarter set by Pure Addition. Race-favourite Crystal Dragon soon vacated the pocket and circled to the lead heading towards a :58.3 half, leaving Lollipop Yacht first over to the backstretch.
Winding from fourth over past three-quarters in 1:27, Paloma Ruiz ranged widest of all into the stretch and opened a three-and-three-quarter-length lead heading to the finish. Pure Addition was placed second as Lollipop Yacht was disqualified to fourth for interference with Crystal Dragon, who in turn was placed third.
Paying $14.60 to win, Paloma Ruiz races for owner Melinda Smith. She won her second race in what was her tenth start. She has now banked $10,050 in career purse earnings.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.