Cusdmagicdragon continued her winning ways in the elimination round for the Alberta Marquis, third leg of the Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies, on Friday evening (October 26) at Northlands Park.
After sweeping the Don Bryne Memorial elimination and final, Cusdmagicdragon romped to a five-length victory in one of three $7,500 Marquis eliminations for trainer Kelly Hoerdt and co-owners Blair and Erna Corbeil of Beaumont, Alta.
With Mike Hennessy aboard, Cusdmagicdragon left from the outside post seven to secure an early three-hole position through a :29.1 opening quarter before sweeping to command. The heavy 1-9 favouritie carved out middle splits of :59.1 and 1:28 then drew away by five lengths to score in 1:56.1. Early leader Outlawstormywether (Tyler Redwood) followed in second-place and Rare Gem (Nathan Sobey) had the slight advantage in a photo for third with Winking At You (Brandon Campbell).
The Custard The Dragon-Rockumentary filly broke her maiden in ABSS action at age two and ended the season finishing second in the Super Final. She has blossomed into a multiple stakes winner in her sophomore year, winning the Penny Bath Memorial at Fraser Downs and a division of the Moores Mile at Century Downs in the spring. Cusdmagicdragon has finished no worse than second in her last 11 starts and now boasts career earnings totalling $173,387.
Even-money favourite Born A Dragon and Nathan Sobey fronted another field of Marquis contenders through quarter panels of :28.3, :59.1 and 1:27.4 then fought off the resurgent first-over challenger Maid In Alberta (Brandon Campbell) in deep stretch for the narrow victory in 1:56.3. Paperback Thriller (Mike Hennessy) followed back in third off a pocket trip.
Also a daughter of Custard The Dragon (out of Barossa), Born A Dragon went unraced at age two and now has eight wins and seven seconds from 21 starts. Keith Clark's homebred filly is shared in ownership by John Fowlis of Calgary, Alta.
Driven by Tyler Redwood, Blink And Gone trailed a strung out field of six in the other elimination as Smile A Mile and Shes On A Roll took turns on the lead through opening panels of :27.4 and :56.2. The field began to converge on the leaders approaching three-quarters in 1:25.3 with 11-1 shot Blink And Gone, who made up an 18-length deficit, coming through between horses to prevail in 1:56 flat over fellow late-closer and 6-5 favourite Bearcat Josi (Jamie Gray). Ginger Beer (J.F. Gagne) finished third.
The Wink N Atcha-Bridgette Hanover filly, who made her debut from the Chris Lancaster barn, is owned by Donna Wyse and David Lamont of Rocky View County, Alta. She returned $25.80 to win at the betting windows. The victory was her fifth in 21 starts this year after going winless in seven starts as a rookie.
The $55,000 (added) Alberta Marquis Final will be contested next Saturday, Nov. 3 and the Challenge Of Champions Super Finals for all divisions will follow two weeks later on Saturday, Nov. 17.
In other Friday night racing action, the weekly $9,000 Mares Open was won by Tajmeallover, who circled a field of five in 1:54.4 for trainer, driver and co-owner J.F. Gagne.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Northlands Park.