Codename Cigar Box stormed around the Century Downs oval and lowered the track record with a powerhouse performance to take the $10,500 Open Pace on Saturday (April 2).
Trainer/driver Kelly Hoerdt floated the four-year-old Custard The Dragon stallion off the car to race fifth as Munchie Chris posted a :28.3 first quarter. But Hoerdt soon launched his charge off the pegs and blitzed the pacesetter to a :55.3 half, though he could not clear command and raced parked as the tempo stayed hot to three-quarters in 1:23.2. Coming to the final turn, Codename Cigar Box put away Munchie Chris and began to widen his lead off the turn, crossing the beam 8-1/4 lengths better than Shark Week to stop the clock in 1:51.4, lowering the track mark for an aged pacing stallion of 1:52 set previously by Ghost Pine. Munchie Chris faded to third and Crackle N Burn took fourth.
Co-owned by Hoerdt with Fred Gilbert and Blair Corbeil, Codename Cigar Box won his third race from nine starts this season and his 11th from 34 overall, lifting his lifetime earnings to $190,593. He paid $4 to win.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results – Century Downs.