After drawing away from his competition against the wind in the Open class at Century Downs, Dontpokethedragon returned with more force to win the first of two $12,500 Ed Tracey Memorial Divisions on Tuesday (June 1).
Driver Brandon Campbell sent the four-year-old Custard The Dragon gelding to the lead with pylon-starter Leisure Suit Larry landing in the pocket to a :27.2 opening quarter. By the half in :56.1, Dontpokethedragon accelerated into the backstretch as the field attempted to give chase. He opened three lengths passing three-quarters in 1:23.4 and widened his lead through the turn and the straightaway, hitting the finish of a 1:52 mile 10-and-three-quarter lengths in front of Leisure Suit Larry in second. Watch Me Disappear rallied for third.
Owned by Paul Sanders, J J J Stables and Jim Marino, Dontpokethedragon won his fifth race from seven starts this season and his 10th from 34 overall, earning $110,456. Michael Campbell conditions the $2.20 winner.
Tropical Dragon dug into pacesetter Wink N Win to score a 1:54.3 win in the other division of the Ed Tracey.
Steered by Colin Kelly for his sidelined brother Dave Kelly, Tropical Dragon settled into fourth from the inside post as Wink N Win whirled to the lead and odds-on favourite Luckenbach lost stride. Past the quarter in :27.4 and through the half in :57.4, Kelly made his move with Tropical Dragon into the backstretch. He ranged to match strides with the leader by three-quarters in 1:26.3 and remained at his throat despite veering wide off the final turn. Once gathering momentum, Tropical Dragon surged by Wink N Win in a 1:54.3 mile to finish one-and-a-half lengths in front. Munchie Chris finished third another 13 lengths behind.
Co-owned by Dave Kelly with Mike Dicks, Tropical Dragon won his first race from 19 starts, earning $10,152. He paid $13.20 to win.
A pair of $12,500 divisions of the Bev Sears Memorial for four-year-old pacing fillies followed the Tracey splits. Miss Itunes delivered off an upset win in the Open Pace to take the first division narrowly in 1:56.
Away fifth from post 6, Miss Itunes motored towards the lead past a :29.1 opening quarter and cleared control after a :58.2 half to pocket pacesetter Annasfeatherfoot. With Blue Star Dreaming following Miss Itunes’ move and left uncovered, she applied first-over pressure on the favourite up the backstretch but began to falter after three-quarters in 1:26.2. Miss Itunes then had to withstand a late pocket charge from Annasfeatherfoot in the stretch, doing so by a nose. Chasing Shadows rode the pylons for third.
A four-year-old mare by Mystery Chase, Miss Itunes won her 10th race from 28 starts, earning $127,202. David Lamont co-owns the $4.10 winner with Donna Wyse, while Tyler Redwood sat in the sulky.
Moosette swept to the lead up the backstretch and held firm to the finish to take the other division of the Bev Sears in 1:55.4.
Past Affair took the lead and posted fractions of :28.1 and :58.3 before backing through the field. Moosette, moving first over heading to the half, rolled to the lead as the pacesetter lost ground and took the field to three-quarters in 1:27.3. L A Woman, who tracked Moosette’s first-over move, raced uncovered to the final turn and stayed at Moosette’s wheel through the stretch to finish second by a length. Bearcat Abigail took third.
Bred and owned by Shale Stables, Moosette won her third race from eight starts this season and her fifth from 18 overall, earning $43,099. Michael Campbell conditions the $4.60 winner while Brandon Campbell sat in the bike.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Tuesday Results - Century Downs.