Major Custard and Miss Itunes separated themselves from the competition, winning the quickest of their respective eliminations of the Alberta Marksman and Alberta Diamond on Saturday (Aug. 8) at Century Downs.
Yielding for the pocket past a :28 first quarter, driver Brandon Campbell circled Major Custard back to the lead as Chazmichaelmichael rolled towards the front to draw within a length of command passing a :57.4 half. Though Chazmichaelmichael’s challenge halted quickly since Major Custard started to kick away from the field moving to three-quarters in 1:26.3. Into the stretch the three-year-old Custard The Dragon gelding coasted clear of Chazmichaelmichael giving chase in second to win by eight-and-three-quarter lengths in 1:54.4. Lovemyrockinbird finished third.
.jpg)
Owned by J J J Stables and Jim Marino, Major Custard remains unbeaten from four starts this year while collecting his ninth win from 11 starts, good for $115,450. Michael Campbell conditions the $2.20 winner.
Trip Hammer strolled in the first Alberta Marksman elimination, winning by six-and-a-half lengths in 1:55.3.
Ivar led the field through early split of :29 and :57.4 before trainer-driver Nate Sobey sent Trip Hammer for the lead. The Trust The Artist gelding opened two lengths on Ivar up the backside and continued to grow that margin past three-quarters in 1:26.2. Ragged But Right overtook Ivar in the stretch to finish second, about nine lengths ahead of Outlaw Fire N Ice in fourth.
Co-owned by Sobey with Diane Bertrand, Robert Gilhespy and Terry Ostashek, Trip Hammer won his second race from three starts this season and his fourth from 14 overall, earning $40,362. He paid $3.10 to win.
Dontpokethedragon popped pocket in the final Alberta Marksman elimination to win in 1:58.2. Positioned behind 2-5 favourite Criminal Record, trainer-driver Keith Clark kept Dontpokethedragon close to the pacesetter through fractions of :28, :58.2 and 1:28.4 before making his move into the stretch. The Custard The Dragon gelding lunged for the front late, putting a neck in front of Criminal Record while Buerger closed for third.
A homebred for Keith Clark and Robert T. Jones, Dontpokethedragon won his first race from five starts this season and his fifth from 14 overall, earning $68,938. He paid $17.00 to win.
Miss Itunes powered first over to win the faster of two $7,500 eliminations for the Alberta Diamond, stopping the clock in 1:57.1.
Yjuliahos dashed to the lead from post 8, clipping the first quarter in :28.3 before Snow Shark circled to the lead moving to a :56.4 half. The early leader soon dropped anchor, prompting the field to angle outside as she tired at the inside up the backstretch. However Miss Itunes committed to staying wide, rolling from fourth into second by three-quarters in 1:26.2 and matching strides with the pacesetter into the stretch. Snow Shark failed to turn away the Mystery Chase filly through the stretch, settling for second one-and-three-quarter lengths behind. Myglamgal closed for third.
Trained and co-owned by David Lamont with Donna Wyse, Miss Itunes won her third race from six starts this season and her sixth from 13 overall, earning $64,346. Nate Sobey steered the $3.20 winner.
Rockinwithcustard rolled passed dueling horses to win the other elimination of the Alberta Diamond in 1:57.4.
Blue Star Dreaming bolted for the lead from post 8, taking the field by the quarter in :29 and enduring pressure from first-over L A Woman through middle fractions of :57.2 and 1:26.1. Rockinwithcustard, racing fourth, managed to catch cover from L A Woman rounding the final turn before sweeping wide to challenge the late leader into the stretch. Putting away L A Woman, Rockinwithcustard then held off a late charge from Deja Vroom to win by a nose with Shes A Live Wire, also rallying from the back, taking third.
Owned by Wild Dunes Stables, J J J Stables and Jim Marino, Rockinwithcustard won her second race from 11 starts, earning $13,594. Brandon Campbell drove the Custard The Dragon filly for trainer Michael Campbell. She paid $11.30 to win.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.