Alexa Bidell made her career training debut as she sent out Creme Custard in the opener at Century Downs on Tuesday, June 30, and she had the mare sharp in a lifetime-best 1:57.1 victory.

Driver Carson Abbott timed the gate well with the five-year-old, giving her a head of steam to pocket the hard-leaving Hurt Feelings (Phil Giesbrecht) into the first turn. Creme Custard carried a loose lead through :57.3 and 1:26.3 middle panels over the rain-soaked surface labelled good, and her pursuers had little in response as she paced to the line to win the $5,000 dash for $8,000 claimers by 2-1/4 lengths. Beyondthehorizon (John Abbott) finished sharply for second over Hurt Feelings. Creme Custard, owned by Seaspray Stables Ltd. of Nanaimo, B.C. and Carole Abbott of Rockyview, Alta. notched her first win of the season in 10 starts in her debut for Bidell. The Custard The Dragon-Garden Gate Creme mare is four-for-40 lifetime and has earned $25,470. She paid $5.20 to win.

Bidell, of Chilliwack, B.C., took over the training of Creme Custard after the mare's June 24 start and is now one-for-one in her career. Tuesday’s win was also the first as a team for her and her boyfriend, winning driver Carson Abbott. He previously told Harness Racing Update in 2024 that “I would like to purchase my own horse in the near future for myself to drive and have my girlfriend, Alexa Bidell, […] be the trainer.” While he doesn’t own Creme Custard, the Bidell-Abbott combination has already found the winner’s circle.

Driver Mike Hennessy won half of the day’s 10 races and pulled away from Brandon Campbell to take sole possession of the lead in the standings at Century Downs. Hennessy, Alberta’s reigning Driver of the Year, took his wins in bunches, winning the third and fourth races with Rememberthecustard ($9.30) and Mcwilly ($3.40), respectively, and sweeping the last three. He won the eighth with Rison Star ($5), was promoted to victory in the ninth with Uploaded ($4.90) after Custards Rendition (Brandon Campbell) was placed second for interference, and took the finale with Blue Powder ($5.50).

Hennessy’s five-pack put him three wins in front of Brandon Campbell, who won twice on the day. The former has 51 wins at Century Downs this year and is 74-for-355 overall for a strike rate of 20.8 per cent.

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

(Standardbred Canada)