With a mid-race brush to the top on a windy afternoon, Dontpokethedragon left the competition in his wake to romp in the $8,100 Open Pace on opening day at Century Downs Tuesday (May 18).
Dontpokethedragon landed in third from post 2 off the wings while 9-5 favourite Just A Start dueled with Outlaw Gunsablazin for the lead by a :27.3 opening quarter. As the tempo cooled, driver Dave Kelly hustled Dontpokethedragon out of third and to the point past a :57.3 half.
Kelly then quickened the pace into the backstretch while Just A Start and Outlawgunsablazin tired, forcing the backfield around them while Dontpokethedragon coasted by three-quarters in 1:26.1. With his margin widening around the final turn, Dontpokethedragon continued to grow his lead to the beam, hitting the finish of a 1:58.2 mile 11-and-a-quarter lengths in front of second-place finisher Armycaptin Hanover. I Ama Rocket closed for third.
A four-year-old gelding by Custard The Dragon, Dontpokethedragon won his fourth race from six starts this season and his ninth from 33 overall, earning $104,206. Michael Campbell trains the $18.00 winner for owners Paul Sanders, J J J Stables and Jim Marino.
Trainer Rod Starkewski scored a hat trick on the opening-day card, winning with Crackle N Burn ($11.20) in the first race of the meet and collecting additional wins with Outlaw Ltd Edition ($4.70) and Maxsamian ($5.20).
In the afternoon’s 10th race, 2-1 favourite Lost Control broke stride moving to the half, causing Crush Me – driven by Daryl Thiessen – to clip heels and fall to the ground. Sintalata, driven by Nate Sobey, could not avoid the downed horse and collided with Thiessen, launching him to the ground and propelling Sobey out of the sulky. Both drivers were taken to hospital – Thiessen boarded on a stretcher and Sobey via ambulance. The horses involved walked back to the paddock following the accident, however their condition following the accident is not yet known. Thiessen confirmed via social media that he broke and dislocated his femur and also suffered a broken collarbone. Trot Insider will provide updates on the Century Downs accident when available.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Tuesday Results - Century Downs.