Tempo-setter Exotic Dragon turned away all challengers in the $50,000 Shirley McClellan Breeders’ Stake, for three-year-old pacing fillies, to claim victory in a 1:54 mile on Sunday (Aug. 22) at Century Downs.
Trainer-driver Nate Sobey sent the daughter of Custard The Dragon to the point from post 8 while pylon-starter and 7-5 favourite Burning Hot settled into the pocket. Exotic Dragon led the field to a :27.3 first quarter and snagged a breather to a :57.1 half, where Outlaw Sharktastic tipped first over but promptly stalled moving to the second turn. That forced Coz Im Special to move three wide and lead the outer tier after Exotic Dragon, who continued unfazed on the front while accelerating to three-quarters in 1:25.2.
With the outer tier fatigued, Exotic Dragon turned for home with just the fresh legs of Burning Hot to face. She dug in through the lane to keep Burning Hot at bay by a half length while Graceful Horizon took third.
Owned by Robert T. Jones, Exotic Dragon won her sixth race from 11 starts, earning $71,665. She paid $7.20 to win.
Codename Cigar Box came uncovered for the lead and overtook the tired pacesetter into the stretch to win the $50,000 Moore’s Mile Breeders’ Stake, an event for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
Dragon Energy circled from the second tier to take the lead past a :28.3 first quarter from Shark Week, who pocketed early leader Sunshine Boy off the first turn before settling for the pocket. Codename Cigar Box meanwhile landed in sixth and pulled first over as the dust settled in front, rolling towards the top into a :56.4 half. The Custard The Dragon colt crept closer to leader Dragon Energy coming to three-quarters in 1:26 and started to edge to the front into the final turn. Once downing that rival, Codename Cigar Box coasted through the stretch chased home by Bonus Round to win by three-quarters lengths in 1:55.3. Sunshine Boy made his way off the cones from a shuffled trip to take third.
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Co-owned by trainer-driver Kelly Hoerdt with Fred Gilbert and Blair Corbeil, Codename Cigar Box won his fifth race from 10 starts this season and his sixth from 17 overall, earning $78,928. He paid $7.40 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Century Downs.