Century Mile: Clark strikes twice in Alberta Sires Stakes Super Finals

There were four C$75,000 Alberta Sires Stakes Super Finals for 2- and 3-year-old pacers of both sexes on Saturday night at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino, and trainer-driver Keith Clark would sweep the two contests for the rookies.

In the 2-year-old male pace Dontpokethedragon and Clark vacated the pocket to take the lead away from Just Mac (Michael Hennessy) going to the 28 4/5 opening quarter. Dontpokethedragon kept control from there, reaching the half in 58 1/5 and the three-quarters in 1:26 4/5, but Just Mac angled out in the lane to challenge. Dontpokethedragon was under heavy urging through the long Century Mile stretch drive, as was Just Mac, but Dontpokethedragon held sway, winning by a head in 1:56 2/5. Freddy Two Socks (Philip Giesbrecht) checked in third.

Dontpokethedragon, bred and co-owned by Clark in partnership with Robert Jones, is a son of Custard The Dragon-Rummys Command. He has won half of his eight starts, and he has now put away C$62,188. A 5-1 shot, he paid $12.80 to win.

Rookie filly pacers were next up and Clark took Snow Shark to the point on the way to the 29 1/5 opening quarter, but she would be joined and then overtaken by Miss Itunes (Nathan Sobey) past the 58 second half. Miss Itunes went on to reach three-quarters in 1:26 4/5, but Clark tipped Snow Shark to the outside in the lane, and she was full of pace, going by Miss Itunes and drawing off to prevail by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:55 4/5. Miss Itunes held second, with L A Woman (Gerry Hudon) third.

Clark owns Snow Shark, a daughter of Custard The Dragon-Shark Fest, and also bred her with Kvp Farms. Snow Shark has a record of 4-2-1 from seven tries, and she has now banked C$75,652. She was sent off at 5-2 and returned $7.80 to win.

The first group of sophomores to race in their Super Final were the pacing fillies, and Mrs Suhwiggins (Brandon Campbell) led on the first turn, but she would be passed by favorite Rockin Mystery (David Kelly) past a quick 26 4/5 first quarter. Rockin Mystery then released a parked Hottieonthehorizon (Kelly Hoerdt) before coming back to the outside to regain the lead beyond the 55 3/5 half.

Rockin Mystery would be challenged by a first-over Summer Fantasy (Hennessy) on the final turn and to the 1:25 3/5 three-quarters, with Mrs Suhwiggins getting off the rail and into the second-over position. In the lane the multiple moves and battles left Rockin Mystery vulnerable, and Mrs Suhwiggins pounced. Campbell angled her out three-wide, she surged by, and then drew off to score by 4 3/4 lengths in 1:56 2/5. Summer Fantasy wound up second, and Outlawspoliteonme (Paul Davies) got up for third.

A filly by Custard The Dragon, Mrs Suhwiggins is trained by Amy Henry for owner J J J Stables. Mrs Suhwiggins made her eighth appearance in the winner's circle during her career, and she has now earned C$162,300. An 8-1 offering, she paid $19.20 to win.

Outlawgrabbingears (Davies) was the 1-5 favorite in the 3-year-old colt and gelding pace, and he would cut fractions of 28, 58 4/5, and 1:28 1/5 after making front from post three. Outlawgrabbingears maintained the lead into the lane, but then in about mid-stretch he put in a bad step and made a brief break, losing all his momentum and chances. Taking advantage was pocket-sitter Jewels Dragon (Hoerdt), who had angled out two-wide in the lane, as he got up over a host of closers to score by a neck in 1:54 4/5. Outlaw Gunsablazin (Jamie Gray) rallied for second, with Crackle N Burn (Giesbrecht) third.

Chris Lancaster trains Jewels Dragon, a gelded son of Custard The Dragon, for owners Paul Sanders and Christine Cutting. Jewels Dragon is now an 11-time winner, and he has a bankroll of C$112,938. He returned $12.90 to win as a 5-1 shot.