Custard Dolce delivered as the 1-9 choice in the $54,200 Alberta Marquis final for Alberta-sired three-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday, July 12 at Century Downs, lifting driver Phil Giesbrecht over the $10 million mark in career earnings.
On a Saturday card of harness racing celebrating women in racing, it was only fitting that the ladies would come first with a pair of stakes events co-headlining the 11-dash offering. And in that first stakes event, the Alberta Marquis final, Custard Dolce showed why she's the division's dominant diva with a determined 1:54.3 victory.
Giesbrecht got away in fifth early as Chics Dragon Flies (David Kelly) launched like a rocket from post seven to gain the early lead and front the field of nine through a :28 openeing quarter. Mademechangemymind (Mike Hennessy) was the first to call, flushed from fourth around the three-eighths mark by Giesbrecht and Custard Dolce. Mademechangemymind cleared to the top after a :57.4 half, then tried to gain some separation from her rivals down the backside as Custard Dolce stalked first up but got a tuck back into the pocket around the far turn after a 1:25.1 third panel.
Mademechangemymind had the jump on Custard Dolce turning for home, but Giesbrecht angled back out and the favourite flew by her rival in the stretch to win by two lengths in a time of 1:54.3. Blowing Inthe Wind (James Jungquist) completed the top trio.
"I thought Mike would have to be pressing on somewhere in the mile," said Giesbrecht about his positioning during the race. I know they probably wanted to follow me, but I had to try to find myself in a way that I'd be following them.
"She's just an amazing filly, an absolute dream to drive. Jamie's done a fantastic job."
Bred, trained and co-owned by the aforementioned Jamie Gray along with Jackson Wittup of Calgary, Max Gibb of Millarville and Derek Wilson of Heritage Pointe, Alta., Custard Dolce (Custard The Dragon - Blue Star West) now sports a career summary of 12-1-0 from 14 starts with $237,987 in earnings. She returned $2.10 to win.
The win with Custard Dolce also marked a milestone for Giesbrecht, as the Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. resident eclipsed the $10 million mark in career earnings. One of the province's leading reinsmen over the past few seasons, Giesbrecht is coming off back-to-back million-dollar campaigns including a 2024 with personal bests in wins (170) and purses ($1.485 million).
Duplicating his effort in the first Alberta Sires Stakes final of the year, Outlawminutbyminut ($12.20) provided the mild upset in the $55,100 Alberta Maverick for provincially-sired three-year-old male pacers.
Slight second choice Discontinued (Brandon Campbell) crossed over quickly from post eight to take the top and set the tempo ahead of Ima Rum Runner, favourite Westcoast Mccoy (Giesbrecht) and Outlawminutbyminut (Logan Gillis). After a :28.4 opening quarter, Gillis followed Giesbrecht into the outer flow. The two favourites tussled through a :57.3 half and 1:26.1 third station, with Westcoast Mccoy starting to lose steam after that first-over approach.
With Campbell urging Discontinued to get separation on their rivals around the far turn, Gillis tipped Outlawminutbyminut three-wide and loomed the danger for the frontrunner. Discontinued blew the turn and went wide, causing Campbell to grab up and straighten his colt for the stretch drive. That change in momentum provided Outlawminutbyminut with the opening he needed to collar Discontinued and draw clear to win by nearly four lengths in 1:55. Custers Stand (Kelly) rounded out the triactor ticket.
"He wanted to leave today, but for some reason he decided he didn't like shadows today for the first time in his life," said Gillis with a chuckle. "So I took him off the gate and made sure he saw a helmet before he saw the shadows.
"Actually, through the first turn, the one horse [made a break] and I got sitting behind exactly the horse that I wanted to sit behind. I knew he was going to take me the whole way, and Brandon cut it. I knew he was going to be tough to beat, but it all worked out in our favour today."
Gillis trains and co-owns Outlawminutbyminut (Smart Shark - At This Hour) along with Todd Teolis of St. Albert, Alta. The sophomore gelding sports a 6-4-0 summary from his 14 starts along with $140,000 in purses.
Usually Shark Week ($2.40) gets top billing in these reports and recaps, but on this occasion his win in the $16,000 Preferred Handicap Pace received third mention. That's not to disparage his effort. Making every call a winning one while towing his main rival — pocket-sitting Midnight Mover — into contention, Shark Week and driver Mike Hennessy bested Midnight Mover and driver Brandon Campbell by half a length with the mile timed in 1:52.2. Bonus Round (Kelly) brought home the show dough.
Rod Hennessy trains and co-owns seven-year-old Shark Week (Vertical Horizon - Shark Gone Bad) along with Lorne Duffield of Edmonton, Alta. He's now a 58-time winner with more than $495,000 in earnings, and his summary in the last two seasons reads 18-1-2 in 22 starts.
To view the full charts from Saturday's card of harness racing outside of Calgary, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)