Outlaw Game On went down the road in the $16,000 Preferred Pace on Saturday, April 11 at Century Downs, taking his first win of the year and his first lifetime at the Preferred level.

The five-year-old gelding was quickest off the gate from post four and took the lead in a flash, putting rail starter Rum N Custard (Kelly Hoerdt) in the pocket. Outlaw Game On strolled for Mike Hennessy through the quarter in :28.1 and half in :57.3, and with the non-advancing Key Dragon (Chris Brown) in front of odds-on favourite Mercedes (Bradon Campbell) on the outside, the leader was firmly in control to three-quarters in 1:25. Rum N Custard shifted out to take his shot coming off the final turn, but Outlaw Game On responded to Hennessy urging and held off the challenger to prevail by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:54. Mercedes closed for third.

Rod Hennessy trains Outlaw Game On, who is one-for-five this season and now 10-for-55 lifetime with $105,820 in earnings. The conditioner shares ownership of the son of Smart Shark-Sobia Hanover with Lorne Duffield of Edmonton, Alta., Five C Stable of Cranbrook, B.C. and Jason Clouston of Okotoks, Alta. The win price was $8.50.

Matts A Mystician also registered his first victory of 2026 with a pocket-tripping score at 9-1 in the $12,000 Preferred 2 Handicap Pace. He left from the inside post and secured a two-hole journey by allowing longshot Samba Beat (Kelly Hoerdt) to take front from post four. The field was single file past the quarter in :28.2 and half in :57.2 until 1-9 choice Shark Week (Mike Hennessy) started underway from fifth.

The track-record holder made headway down the backstretch, edging ahead of Samba Beat at three-quarters in 1:25.3, but the pacesetter battled back and stood his ground around the last turn. As Shark Week went by Samba Beat at the top of the lane, Matts A Mystician dove to the pylons, and he out-kicked Shark Week home to win by a half-length in 1:55.4. One Major Hottie (Phil Giesbrecht) was third.

Matts A Mystician improved to one-for-four this year for trainer Nathan Sobey and owners Sobey Racing Inc. of Sturgeon County, Alta. and Diane Bertrand and Robert Gilhespy of Lake Country, B.C. The seven-year-old son of Mystician-Jills Sooter tallied his 16th career victory in 90 appearances and raised his bankroll to $177,259. He returned $21.20 at the mutuels.

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

(Standardbred Canada)