Three-year-old pacing fillies strutted their stuff Friday evening at Northlands Park, as the oval hosted a set of $10,000 eliminations for the Don Byrne Memorial.
Cusdmagicdragon, who was sent off as the overwhelming favourite in the first event, was a comfortable winner in 1:54.2 for trainer/driver Kelly Hoerdt.
Hoerdt, who finished the card by sending out three winners, got away third with his charge while Hot Kiss shot to the lead and rolled the field through first-half fractions of :27.1 and :56.3. Ginger Beer made a first-over move in the third quarter, and she showed a narrow lead while racing parked past the three-quarter pole in 1:25.1.
Cusdmagicdragon was tracking cover at that point, and she kicked it into another gear in the final quarter of the contest. Her closing speed clocked in :29 was enough to earn her the victory by a length over Bearcat Josi in 1:54.2. Ginger Beer faded late and wound up settling for the show dough.
Hoerdt shares ownership on the daughter of Custard The Dragon-Rockumentary with Blair & Erna Corbeil of Beaumont, AB. The first-time Lasix user posted her fifth win of the season while pushing her lifetime earnings to $107,137.
Born A Dragon extended her winning streak to three-in-a-row thanks to her 1:56.4 triumph in the second elimination.
Nathan Sobey guided the Keith Clark pupil to the two-length triumph after guiding the pacer through panels of :29.1, 1:00.3 and 1:29. She rocketed home in :27.4 to post the comfortable score over Lively Rocket. Taking home third prize was Blue Grotto.
The homebred daughter of Custard The Dragon-Barossa now owns a 7-7-1 record from 19 trips postward this season. Unraced as a rookie, the filly has earned $37,160 to date for Clark and partner John Fowlis of Calgary, AB.
To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results – Northlands Park.