The 2024 season has started very well for veteran campaigner Carro B Bunsen, on pace to post career best numbers at the age of six.
A late 2023 acqusition by Brock MacLellan and trainer/driver Logan Gillis, Carro B Bunsen didn't find the winner's circle in 2023 despite 27 attempts. The son of Blue Burner - Carro Avro posted a 0-2-1 summary in those 27 outings, accruing $11,277 in earnings.
Heading into his seventh start of 2024 on Saturday, April 6, Carro B Bunsen had posted a 2-2-0 summary with $16,519 in purses including a solid runner-up finish to Preferred 2 winner Wine Thirty in his most recent race on March 23 at Century Downs.
Carro B Bunsen was part of a nine-horse $11,000 Preferred 2 Pace on Saturday at Century Downs was scratched down to a field of six. The betting public sent off Icy Blue Scooter as the 8-5 choice for Nathan Sobey with outside starter Wine Thirty (driven by Mike Hennessy) the 2-1 second choice.
Neither of those horses were forwardly placed, however, as Brandon Campbell sent post three starter Redstone Arsenal on a front-end mission. After a :28 opener, Redstone Arsenal made his way past the halfway station in :57 before facing the pressure of an advancing Carro B Bunsen. That outer flow was followed by Icy Blue Scooter and Wine Thirty.
Redstone Arsenal tried to keep that bid from Carro B Bunsen at bay, but Gillis got his charge to clear before the 1:25.2 third quarter. Icy Blue Scooter, making his first start in three months, continued to gain on the leader. Mike Hennessy launched Wine Thirty off that helmet for a three-horse sprint to the wire. Carro B Bunsen held on by a head, with the mile timed in 1:54.2. Icy Blue Scooter and Wine Thirty rounded out the top trio.
Carro B Bunsen now sports 13 career wins — three of those this season — with more than $126,000 in earnings. He paid $13.70 to win on Saturday, with the tally marking the pacer's first Preferred level score at the Calgary-area oval.
For full results from the Saturday card of harness racing at Century Downs, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)