There were just 10 horses entered in the eliminations for the 2024 edition of the Moores Mile Breeders Stakes on Saturday, June 8 at Century Downs, but those two $14,000 five-horse elims certainly weren't lacking for action.
Grey Horizon and Brandon Campbell appeared to be a 1:54.2 winner as the 2-5 choice in the first Moores Mile elim, holding off a late-surging Rum N Custard (Kelly Hoerdt) by three-quarters of a length. After reviewing the final turn footage, however, judges determined that Grey Horizon was inside two consecutive pylons turning for home and thus was placed behind the lapped-on second-place finisher, Rum N Custard. Thus Grey Horizon finished first but was placed second, elevating Rum N Custard to first. Come On Santana (Jamie Gray) and Nevada Dragon (Nathan Sobey) completed the top four to punch tickets to the Moores Mile final.
The time of 1:54.3 is a new lifetime mark for Rum N Custard (Custard The Dragon - Rummy Command), now a two-time winner for Hoerdt, who trains and co-owns the gelding with Fred Gilbert of Brandon, Man. A $2 win wager on Run N Custard returned $17.00.
Campbell appeared to on his way to victory in the second Moores Mile elim as One Hot Minute looked to be getting the better of pacesetter Matteuse (Sobey) turning for home. However, One Hot Minute got fumbly gaited and lost ground and momentum around that turn, while Jamie Gray launched YYC On The Horizon from the back of the pack. Through a :29.1 final panel, YYC On The Horizon had the wire in his sights, and he got there a length ahead of Matteuse and One Hot Minute in a maiden-breaking 1:56.2. Tzilacatzin (Chris Brown) was fourth best.
YYC On The Horizon (Vertical Horizon-Divas Dragonfly) is trained and co-owned by Gray along with Wild Dunes Stables of Delta, B.C. As the second longest shot on the board at 16-1, he paid $35.20 to win.
The 2024 Moores Mile Breeders Stakes is for Alberta-foaled three-year-old male pacing colts. Next week's final features a $90,000 purse.
David Kelly was shut out during stakes action, but the horseman did connect for a natural training hat trick in the races leading up tp the Moores Mile elims. Kelly clicked with General Custard (1:54.3; $5.30) in the second, Lunch Pail Guy (1:57; $4.00) in the third and Tin Can Timmy (1:54.3; $5.90) in the fourth, driving all three to victory as well.
Century Downs shifts its schedule next week, with no racing on Friday, June 14. Instead, the Calgary, Alta. area oval will host live harness racing on Saturday, June 15 and Sunday, 16 with first post time 12:45 p.m. (MDT).
For the results from Saturday's card of harness racing at Century Downs, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)