Jamie Gray shot Ready N Steady to the front and blazed around the Century Downs oval to take the second of two $20,000 divisions of the Norm Kennedy Memorial, for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers, in 1:54.2 on Sunday, May 13.
Ripping through the first quarter in :27.1, Ready N Steady held a four length lead over Freedoms Rescue passing the stands first time, with Cheddar Jack sitting third. Ready N Steady remained unchallenged through a :56.1 half while Cheddar Jack moved first over in pursuit with Outlaw True Grit tracking before losing stride toward three quarters. Past three quarters in 1:24.3, Ready N Steady turned for home holding off Freedoms Rescue, angling off the rail late to be second, and Cheddar Jack, toward the center of the track in third.
Returning $28.20 to win, Ready N Steady, a gelding by American Ideal from the Bettors Delight mare Yankee Lacey, is trained and driven by Jamie Gray for owner Wild Dunes Stable. He won his first race in seven tries this season and his sixth in 17 overall, compiling $35,348 in earnings.
Trainer-driver Kelly Hoerdt wired the field in the other Kennedy Memorial division with Custards Laststand, a 1:55.3 winner at odds of 3-5. The colt by Custard The Dragon took command through a :29.1 opening quarter and was unchallenged through a half in :57.4 and three quarters in 1:27 before opening a five length lead around the final turn, strolling to the wire clear of Workin Them Angels tipping wide from second over to be second, while Gonna Funku Up, off a failed first-over bid, held third.
Hoerdt co-owns Custards Laststand with Blair Corbeil. The $3.30 winner collected his second victory in five starts this season and his sixth in 13 overall, earning $89,297.
A $9,000 Open Pace highlighted the stakes undercard, with Cool Cowboy, sent the 7-5 favourite, winning in wire-to-wire style in 1:54.2.
Grabbing the front through a :28.3 opening quarter, Cool Cowboy and driver Serge Masse sat steady on the lead, unchallenged through a :57.3 half. Sabine Pass, from fourth, moved first over into the backstretch, applying minor pressure on Cool Cowboy who still held a one-and-one-half lengths lead at three quarters in 1:26.3. The Jim Marino trainee turned for home leading pocket-sitter Iwontdothatagain, while Sabine Pass chased two lengths behind in third.
A six-year-old son of Brandons Cowboy from the Grinfromeartoear mare Cool Grin, Cool Cowboy, owned by J J J Stables and Jim Marino, won his first race in 11 tries this season and his 21st in 86 overall, earning $296,438. He paid $4.90 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Century Downs.