Three-year-old pacers Vladdy G and Terrible Custard took top honours on Mid-Summer Classic Day winning the Grade 3 stakes featured at Century Downs on Saturday, Aug. 8.

Vladdy G turned in a career-best performance while collecting his second straight stakes title, winning the $97,220 Ralph Klein Memorial for colts and geldings in 1:53.3 for trainer/driver Logan Gillis.

Vladdy G landed in third early on as Boleto A Mexico (Jamie Gray) cut the quarter in :27.4 with 3-5 favourite Rockin Buddy (Mike Hennessy) in the pocket. Edwin Hanover (Dave Kelly), fourth from a trailing tier start, was the first to move as the tempo slowed though a :57.3 half and Vladdy G slipped out on his back, but was left uncovered as Edwin Hanover quickly surged to the front.

Vladdy G set his sights on the new leader as they raced to three-quarters in 1:25.1 and started to close in down the stretch, reaching up in the final strides to defeat Edwin Hanover by half a length. Ruler Of Dragons (Phil Giesbrecht) closed well to finish third.

Winless in an eight-race freshman campaign, Vladdy G has won four of eight sophomore starts while finishing second in the other half to boost his bankroll to $133,378 for owner Todd Teolis of St. Alberta, Alta.

After winning the Alberta Sires Stakes Marksman final and his Klein elimination by a neck in matching 1:54.1 miles, the Captive Audience-Alina gelding carried his momentum into the final as the 5-2 second choice. He paid $7.60 to win.

Campaigned by the father and son, training and driving team of Rod and Mike Hennessy, Terrible Custard defeated fellow elimination winner Pup in a stretch showdown for a 1:54.2 victory in the $89,160 Gord and Illa Rumpel Memorial for fillies.

Terrible Custard was parked in seventh early on as the opening panel went in a spirited :26.4 with Josies Joules (David Kelly) winning the early tussle for the top spot. As Josies Joules backed down the pace though a half in :56, Terrible Custard picked up cover when 1-2 favourite Pup (Jamie Gray) made her move from midfield. 

Pup advanced steadily down the backstretch to take over command with Terrible Custard hot on her heels and rolling right alongside the bettors' choice after three-quarters in 1:24.1. Those two were left alone on the lead for a stretch showdown as the tiring Josies Joules broke stride in third, causing interference to many of the trailing fillies. Terrible Custard and Pup fought gamely to the finish, with the former besting the latter by a neck in a win photo. Blue Star Aspire (Rod Therres) finished 2-3/4 lengths behind in third.

A homebred for Lorne Duffield of Edmonton, Alta., the Custard The Dragon-Remember Terror filly was an Alberta Sires Stakes winner during her eight-race rookie campaign and now has five wins in 20 career starts with earnings of $95,994.

Terrible Custard was the 7-2 second choice and paid $9.40 to win.

Trainer Jacques Lambert's homebred Needabankloan and driver Dave Kelly pulled off a 15-1 upset on the Mid-Summer Classic undercard taking on a pair of top pacers from the Rod Hennessy stable in the $14,500 Preferred Handicap. 

Needabankloan left with Outlaw Game On (Phil Giesbrecht) and 1-9 favourite Shark Week  (Mike Hennessy) as the latter Rod Hennessy trainee forged to the top from his assigned outside post six and the former took back to third. Getting the pocket position in a :26.2 quarter, Needabankloan continued to stalk Shark Week to the half in :55.3 and three-quarters in 1:23.2. As they turned for home, it was game on! Shark Week gave way as Outlaw Game On closed outside and Needabankloan rallied inside through the stretch. Needabankloan forged ahead as the wire approached to prevail by three-quarters of a length over Outlaw Game On in 1:52.1, with Shark Week settling for third 1-3/4 lengths behind.

Needabankloan's backers were rewarded with a $32.60 win payout.

The seven-year-old Toucam Sam-Newport Way gelding, also co-owned by Julie Lambert of Red Deer County, Alta., stepped back up to the top class off back-to-back wins. His 23rd career victory was his first at the Preferred level and pushed his bankroll over the $200,000 mark.

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

(Standardbred Canada)