Upsets were the rule of the day in Century Downs' two main races on Saturday.
There were upsets in both the Preferred Pace and the Alberta Sires Stakes (ABSS) Alberta Marksman final. Six of the twelve races on the schedule were won by popular vote.
Tzilacatzin made a beautiful pocket trip with Chris Brown at the lines to catch One Hot Minute (Brandon Campbell) in the shadow of the wire and win by a head in 1:54.4 in the $54,800 Alberta Marksman final for three-year-old colts and geldings. In the process, Tzilacatzin set a new lifetime record. Before reluctantly giving up in the last few steps, One Hot Minute had set opening fractions of :28.2, :57.3, and 1:25.2 to start.
Additionally, Brown trains Legs Like Tina, the son of Captive Audience from the Lil Dude Starrbuck mare, for Jennifer Clark, the breeder and owner of Ponoka, Alta. Tzilacatzin won his first game in nine starts this year, paying $54.30 to do so. Throughout 15 lifetime runs, the brown gelding has won twice and amassed $42,435 in earnings.
Trainer-driver Nathan Sobey led Icy Blue Scooter around the Rocky View circuit in the $25,000 Preferred Pace, winning the race from start to finish. Icy Blue Scooter's final time of 1:52.4 set a new season's best.
Along with Diane Bertrand of Edmonton, Alberta, and Robert Gilhespy of Lake Country, British Columbia, Sobey is co-owner of the 11-year-old bay gelding. For the seasoned Blue Burner son, it was his first victory in nine starts this year. With 217 lifetime starts under his belt, Icy Blue Scooter has now made 44 trips to the winner's circle and earned $414,296 in total.