Key Dragon locked up his first career Preferred-level victory as he surged to win the $16,000 Preferred Pace on the final card of the meet at Century Mile on Saturday, Jan. 31.

Brandon Campbell found the gelding a seat in third from post seven while inside starter Outlaw Game On (Mike Hennessy) took early control over Rum N Custard (Kelly Hoerdt), who accepted the pocket. Those three raced in order through the quarter in :27.3 and half in :56.3, with Rum N Custard the first to make a move as Caviart Scotland (Phil Giesbrecht) approached on the outside.

Rum N Custard and Outlaw Game On battled through three-quarters in 1:25.3 and went head-to-head down the stretch with Key Dragon boxed in behind them. Key Dragon found a seam midway down the lane and went into sprint mode, and he rallied past the duelling leaders to win by a half-length in 1:54. Outlaw Game On eked out second over Rum N Custard.

Key Dragon recorded his first victory of the year in his third attempt for trainer Paul Urquhart and owner-breeder Simone Urquhart of Surrey, B.C. The five-year-old son of Custard The Dragon-Keys Please has reached the winner’s circle 10 times and accumulated a bankroll of $98,793 in 50 starts. He returned $18.60 to win.

Senga Nightmare chased down a loose leader to upset at 11-1 in the $16,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred Handicap Pace. After sitting fourth as favourite Stash The Cookies (Campbell) showed the way through the quarter in :27.1 and half in :55.1, she moved out for Ryan Grundy and began a march towards the pacesetter, who was 3-1/2 lengths up at three-quarters in 1:24.1. Senga Nightmare reeled in Stash The Cookies through the stretch and steamrolled past her in the last eighth of a mile to prevail by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:53.4. Baby Limbo (Blake Piwniuk) closed for second, and Grey Sea (Mike Hennessy) was third.

Senga Nightmare, owned and trained by Grundy of Airdrie, Alta., is two-for-four in the Preferred ranks this year. The eight-year-old Vertical Horizon-Nells Sweet Future mare is now 41-for-169 lifetime with $301,977 in earnings. Her win price was $25.20.

Racing in Alberta resumes on Saturday, Mar. 7 at The Track on 2 and will shift to Century Downs on Saturday, Apr. 4. Century Mile will host its next card on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Mile.

(Standardbred Canada)