Major Custard blasted clear of his competition into the stretch to win the first of two eliminations for the Ralph Klein Memorial shut down in 1:52.4 on Saturday (Aug. 22) at Century Downs.
Driver Brandon Campbell hustled the Custard The Dragon gelding to the point moving to a :27.3 first quarter and maintained control as West Coast Beach charged uncovered towards the front. Major Custard continued to lead narrowly through a :56.4 half and by three-quarters in 1:24.1 until West Coast Beach made a break around the final turn, giving Major Custard a jump on the field heading for the finish. Horse rallied off cover to take second, two-and-a-half lengths behind the winner, with Trip Hammer taking third. Chazmichaelmichael, off a pocket trip, settled for fourth.
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Owned by J J J Stables and Jim Marino, Major Custard remains unbeaten from six starts this year while collecting his 11th victory from 13 starts overall, earning $135,050. He paid $2.40 to win.
Criminal Record coasted in the other Klein elimination as the even-money favourite in 1:53.4. The colt by Mystery Chase cleared control from post 5 and faced no challenge through fractions of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:24.3 in progress to a five-and-three-quarter length victory over Strateontilmorning taking second with Outlaw Fire N Ice third. Pocket-sitter Dontpokethedragon faded to fourth.
Co-owned by trainer-driver Kelly Hoerdt with partners Ralph Morrow and Jacques Lambert, Criminal Record won his second race from eight starts this season and his fifth from 18 overall, earning $56,671. He paid $4.00 to win.
Blue Star Dreaming popped pocket to win the faster of two $9,000 eliminations for the Gord & Illa Rumpel Memorial at odds of 26-1.
Century Gianna set the tempo through early fractions of :27.4 and :57.2 until pressured by 6-5 favourite Probert coming first over into the second turn. Probert stalled up the backstretch as Century Gianna accelerated to three-quarters in 1:25.2, prompting Miss Itunes to roll three wide from second over moving into the final turn.
Into the stretch Miss Itunes drew within a head of the lead but Century Gianna continued to battle for the front. Meanwhile Blue Star Dreaming, drafting behind the dueling leaders, found room in the stretch and darted with fresh legs to the front to win by two-and-three-quarter lengths in 1:54.1. Century Gianna settled for second with Miss Itunes third and Jessies Girl fourth.
Returning $55.40 to win, Blue Star Dreaming collected her second win from six starts this season and her fifth from 13 overall, earning $59,778. Rod Hennessey trains and co-owns the Blue Burner filly with Lorne Duffield while Michael Hennessey sat in the bike.
The Campbells returned to the winner’s circle in the other Rumpel elimination, romping with Rockinwithcustard in a 1:54.4 mile.
Rockin With Lou protected position from the pylon post while Rockinwithcustard floated into the pocket before a :29.1 first quarter. Indigo Beach angled first over from fourth and rolled to pressure the pacesetter into a :57.3 half but then stalled into the backside. Rockin With Lou continued to lead by three-quarters in 1:25.2 with her only threat remaining in tow in a tight pocket. Once Campbell kicked out with Rockinwithcustard, the Custard The Dragon filly darted away to a five-and-three-quarter length win over Rockin With Lou, while Indigo Beach and Watch Me Boogie rounded the top four.
Owned by Wild Dunes Stables, J J J Stables and Jim Marino, Rockinwithcustard won her fourth race from 13 starts, earning $32,294. She paid $6.90 to win.
The stakes eliminations gave trainer Michael Campbell two of his three victories on the afternoon, while it gave trainer Kelly Hoerdt one of his three. Campbell sent Hotpieceoface ($34.30), driven by Brandon Campbell for one of his six wins on the card, to victory in the opener while Hoerdt won in the following races with Had A Hard Handle ($7.10) and Overactive ($4.30). Brandon's other wins came with Mystic Dragon ($5.00), Northfield Nellie ($9.40) and Major Mac ($7.10).
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.