After a rare and narrow defeat last time out, Custard Dolce was in no mood for company in her return to stakes action on Saturday, July 5 at Century Downs.

During a day celebrating the legacy of Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Famer Keith Clark, it was only fitting the the first recipient of the Keith Clark Horsemanship Award — Jamie Gray — had some of the spotlight on him and his homebred stable star, Custard Dolce. In the first of two $15,000 Alberta Marquis eliminations for provincially-sired three-year-old pacing fillies, Custard Dolce delivered on her 1-9 pari-mutuel promise.

She delivered loud and clear.

Committing to the outer flow from fourth as Snowdragon (Kelly Hoerdt) fronted the field through a mild :28.2 opener and :59.3 half. When Gray flipped the switch on Custard Dolce just after the half, she took off like she was shot from a cannon — pacing :26.3 in her third quarter and then pacing her final stanza in :28.4 for the 1:55 smackdown over her rivals. The win margin was nearly a dozen lengths over Dragons Attitude (Mike Hennessy) with Blowing Inthe Wind (James Jungquist) next best.

Gray co-owns Custard Dolce (Custard The Dragon - Blue Star West) along with fellow Albertans Jackson Wittup of Calgary, Max Gibb of Millarville and Derek Wilson of Heritage Pointe. The bay filly now sports a 11-1-0 lifetime record from 13 starts with more than $210,000 in earnings. She predictably returned $2.10 to win.

The only stakes longshot winner of the day was the winner of the second Marquis elimination: Chics Dragon Flies, who hauled down pacesetting favourite Mademechangemind (Hennessy) with a well-timed stretch rally for driver Kelly Hoerdt to complete the 1:55.3 maiden-breaking tally. Mademechangemymind — who upset Custard Dolce in the Shirley McClellan Final last time out — couldn't hold on after cutting this mile with fractions of :28. :57.3 and 1:25.3 and finished three parts of length back in second. Custards Rendition (Phil Giesbrecht) rallied for the show spot.

Chris Lancaster trains and co-owns Chics Dragon Flies along with Derek Gilbert of Brandon, Man. Despite winning here for the first time, the daughter of Custard The Dragon - Hi Maintenancechic sports five top-three finishes (1-2-2) in her six career appearances with $27,991 in purses. She returned $16.40 to her supporters.

Heavy favourites converted in each of the $15,000 Alberta Maverick eliminations for Alberta-sired three-year-old male pacers. Westcoast Mccoy ($2.20) was the Real McCoy in the first split, an easy 1:55.4 winner for driver Giesbrecht and trainer John Chappell. After opening his test in :27.3, Giesbrecht yielded to Captain Keys (Hoerdt) through a :57 half and then retook the top down the backside. After a 1:25.1 third station up by three, Westcoast Mccoy coasted home in :30.3 for the 1:55.4 score. Worldsgreatestsin (Brandon Campbell) closed well to finish second by 4-1/2 length with Ima Rum Runner (Hennessy) rounding out the top trio.

A son of Captive Audience - Alley Scat, Westcoast Mccoy bumped his lifetime summary to 4-2-4 from 13 starts with earnings of $55,641 for breeder-owner Ross Sharp of Campbell River, B.C. and Andrea Chappell of Olds, Alta.

Discontinued ($2.10) maintained his fine seasonal form, as the son of Custard The Dragon - Shark Fest has yet to miss the top trop as a sophomore (4-1-1) after his 1:56.2 Maverick elim win. Trainer-driver-co-owner Brandon Campbell sat the pocket with the 1-9 favourite as long as he could while Momas Work Of Art (Hennessy) orchestrated a :28 opener and :58.3 half. Campbell angled from the two hole down the backside and pressured the leader hard through a 1:26.4 third station. Momas Work Of Art threw up the white flag after that speed battle, while Discontinued maintained his momentum down the stretch for the 1:56.2 decision. A pylon-skimming Outlawminutbyminut (Logan Gillis) was 1-1/2 lengths back in second with Custers Stand (Giesbrecht) at the bottom of the triactor ticket.

Campbell co-owns Discontinued along with Raymond Henry and George Rogers of Calgary. With a summary of 4-4-2 from 14 starts, the bay colt sits just shy of the six figure earnings plateau with $98,045 accrued.

The finals of the Marquis and Maverick take place in one week's time.

On Saturday, the Alberta Standardbred Horse Association (ASHA) hosted “Remembering Harness Racing Legend: Keith Clark,” a special tribute to the Hall of Famer generally regarded as one of Alberta’s greatest horsemen.

The afternoon featured blanket presentations sponsored by Clark's family and friends with $1,000 purse boosts for all overnight races in honour of Clark, who passed away last December.

A special presentation was made to Jamie Gray for the inaugural Keith Clark Horsemanship Award, followed by a stretch walk in Clark's memory.

For the full results from Saturday's card of harness racing outside of Calgary, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.

(Standardbred Canada; with files from ASHA)