Launching from the pocket, Retros Mystery strode clear of his competition to take the $8,100 Open Pace on Tuesday (Sept. 7) at Century Downs, giving trainer Nate Sobey one of his three wins on the nine-race card.
Retros Mystery secured the pocket from the pylon post while yielding control to Just A Start heading to a :28 first quarter. Odds-on favourite and stablemate Icy Blue Scooter landed in fourth and came marching uncovered after the leader into a :57.1 half. Just A Start accelerated to the backstretch, tripping three-quarters in 1:24.4 with Retros Mystery the closest challenger into the final turn. Once room opened, driver Tyler Redwood ripped Retros Mystery from the pocket and surged to the lead, kicking three-lengths clear of Just A Start and stopping the clock in 1:53.1. Armycaptin Hanover, off a second-over trip, finished third.
Owned by Stewart Waterman, Retros Mystery won his second race from 12 starts this season and his 18th from 126 overall, earning $159,891. He paid $15.30 to win.
The win came in the middle of Sobey’s afternoon hat trick, having won the opener with Sometime Somewhere ($2.40) and scoring a win in the $8,100 co-featured Fillies & Mares Open Pace with Glimpseofgoodness.
Clearing command to a :28 first quarter, Glimpseofgoodness cruised on the point to a :56.4 half, quickened to three-quarters in 1:24.2 and strode to a two-length victory over Chocolate Terror, who might slight gains first over to take second. Moosette, the 8-5 favourite, rode cover to finish third. Glimpseofgoodness stopped the clock in 1:52.3, eclipsing the track record for aged pacing mares of 1:52.4 set by Watch My Luck.
A six-year-old mare by Test Flight, Glimpseofgoodness won her fourth race from 18 starts, earning $112,859. Sobey co-owns Glimpseofgoodness with Paul Davies, while Dave Kelly collected his 500th victory when driving the $13.40 winner.
Brandon Campbell also scored a hat trick on the Tuesday card, collecting victories with A Private Affair ($6.50), Buddy Light ($4.30) and Annasfeatherfoot ($3.00).
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Tuesday Results - Century Downs.