Daisy Corvette revved up off cover turning for home and sprang an 11-1 upset in Century Downs' final Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace of the month, which featured a purse boost to $25,000, on Friday, April 26.
In the field scratched down to eight distaffers, Daisy Corvette and driver Logan Gillis got away sixth and caught cover approaching the midway mark before speeding past the tiring leaders in the stretch for the 1:54.3 victory, returning $25.70 for the upset win.
Last week's winner, Outlaw Blue Isle (Dave Kelly), had blasted to the top off the gate from the outside and took control over even-money favourite Outlaw Sharktastic (Nathan Sobey), a two-time Preferred winner already this month, through a :26.4 opening panel. As Outlaw Blue Isle backed down the pace to the half in :57.1, Century Mach (Mike Hennessy) swept up from third and they hit three-quarters in 1:25.2 just heads apart. However, Outlaw Blue Isle threw in the towel turning for home and Century Mach began to tire as a three-wide Daisy Corvette powered past them into the lane for her first win of the year. Outlaw Allie Oops (Jamie Gray) rallied from third-over and finished three-quarters of a length behind the winner, with Outlaw Sharktastic following in third after a traffic-troubled trip.
Daisy Corvette made it into the win column in her fourth start of the season after starring in four Mares Preferred events at Century Mile late last year. Shanisty Andres trains the five-year-old Mystician-Yellow Mustang mare for owner Tammy Murschell. Daisy Corvette now boasts 14 career wins with the lion's share of the purse boosting her bankroll to $135,127.
Track officials told Trot Insider that Century Downs will offer a new structure for the Preferred classes through the prime of its racing season. Purses will be $25,000 for the last Preferreds of the month with the Preferreds held during the remaining weeks going for $12,500. In the past, all Preferreds carried a $14,000 purse during peak season. Track officials are trying the new structure with hopes of creating some bigger races with added excitement at the end of the month.
In other Friday action, Travis Ellis had a training triple during the 10-race card to tie Rod Hennessy atop the 2024 trainer standings at Century Downs. He brought his total to nine with wins courtesy Sporty Jewels ($8.60) and Iknowyouknow ($6.10), both driven by Mike Hennessy, and Sassy Libby ($13.30), in rein to Doug Chappell. With his driving double, Mike Hennessy pulled out of a tie for the top spot in the driver standings ahead of Dave Kelly.
Racing resumes on Saturday as Century Downs celebrates its 10th anniversary with an 11-race card and Alberta's reigning Horse of the Year Shark Week looking to extend his win streak to 18 straight victories in the $25,000 Preferred Pace. The program also features the eliminations for the Ed Tracey Memorial Pace. The action begins at 12:45 p.m.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Century Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)