With a flurry of foes charging across the track up the backstretch, Major Custard raced blindswitched but managed to jostle out of traffic and rip down the center of the course to win the aptly-named $92,840 Western Canada Pacing Derby on Sunday (Nov. 29) at Century Mile.
Chazmichaelmichael motored off the wings to the first turn, prompting driver Brandon Campbell to take Major Custard off the speed and race seventh to a :27.3 opening quarter. West Coast Beach angled off the pylons up the backside and ranged towards the pacesetter and slowly crossed over to the cones by a :57.1 half.
A blitz rolled towards the front moving to the far turn. Outlaw C My Shadow tipped three wide while Fully Covered, away last, rolled four wide and Major Custard attempted to wedge himself a slot for clearance, but took back circling the turn. Criminal Record ripped past a tiring West Coast Beach past three-quarters in 1:25.2 and clung to command through the stretch. Chazmichaelmichael shook loose and gave chase as Brandon Campbell swung Major Custard to the center of the track and accelerated towards the lead late, striding away from Criminal Record to a 1:54.4 victory. Fully Covered closed for third with Chazmichaelmichael fading to fourth.
Owned by J J J Stables and Jim Marino, Major Custard won his 14th race from 15 starts this season and his 19th from 22 overall, earning $269,275. Michael Campbell trains the Custard The Dragon gelding who paid $3.30 to win.
Campbell also claimed victory in the $88,320 Don Byrne Memorial Final with Probert, who scored going away in a 1:53 mile.
Settling for the pocket to a :26.3 opening quarter, Campbell circled Probert to the point moving up the backstretch and took the field by the half in :56.3. Miss Itunes, moving first over from sixth, ranged up to the pacesetter’s wheel entering the final turn, towing Deja Vroom into contention past three-quarters in 1:24.4. Into the stretch Miss Itunes faltered and Deja Vroom vaulted while Probert gained separation on her competition. Custards Crown rallied off a pylon trip and gave chase to Probert as her stablemate strode to a four-length victory. Deja Vroom finished third with Snow Shark closing for fourth.
Trained by Chris Lancaster for owner Rod Therres, Probert won her eighth race from 13 starts this season and her 15th from 20 overall, earning $234,600. The Dali filly paid $2.50 to win.
Earlier in the card an accident caused a race to be declared a no contest. Shes On A Roll fell to the course, causing two others to go down and for the rest of the field to pull up. Rene Goulet, driving Shes On A Roll, was taken to hospital with a possible head injury. James Jungquist, driving Sprinttothefinish, was also taken to hospital but for a suspected arm injury. Sprinttothefinish succumbed to the injuries she suffered in the accident.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolnces to everyone associated with Sprinttothefinish. And please join us in offering best wishes and a speedy recovery to the drivers involved in the accident.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Century Mile.
In the 4th race that day
In the 4th race that day there was wreck and three guys went down, including Brandon. Turns out he broke both wrists but he kept going and won the Western Canada Pacing Derby and the Filly Pace later on the card. One tough hombre!!
I think Major Custard has two
I think Major Custard has two races remaining on his 2020 racing calendar. The Brad Gunn eliminations are scheduled for a week from next Saturday, Dec. 12, with the final on Dec. 19.