Alberta-sired pacing fillies headline Saturday afternoon's (Nov. 3) card at Century Downs, the first of 18 programs in the Calgary-area racetrack's winter meet which extends to Jan. 20, 2019.
Among those looking to kick off the meet on a victorious note is Kelly Hoerdt trainee Cusdmagicdragon, who arrives fresh off a win in the $125,000 Don Byrne at Northlands Park in search of a fourth straight win in the $45,700 Alberta Marquis for three-year-old pacing fillies, carded as the day's 10th and final race.
The daughter of Custard The Dragon, who has banked $137,080 this season and has only finished worse than second in two of 14 starts, has been installed as the 7-5 favourite in the Marquis by virtue of her commanding five-length win in last week's elimination at Northlands Park. Hoerdt, who shares ownership of Cusdmagicdragon with breeders Blair and Erna Corbeil, returns to the bike after ceding the lines to Mike Hennessy for her last two starts. The eight-time winner starts from post 6 in the field of nine, which also includes elimination winners Born A Dragon (5-2, post 4, Nathan Sobey) and Blink And Gone (8-1, post 1, Tyler Redwood), along with Don Byrne runner-up Bearcat Josi (10-1, post 5, Jamie Gray).
A pair of $24,900 Alberta Stardust splits for two-year-old pacing fillies serve as supporting events, carded as races seven and eight. In the first division, Alberta Starburst winner Western Summit seeks her third career win, but will have to overcome post 8 at 6-1 morning-line odds after a runner-up finish in her Jim Rogers split at Northlands. Nathan Sobey drives the daughter of Vertical Horizon for trainer Keith Clark.
The second division sees Maxsamian return to a Century track where she won her last two local starts, both against stakes company. David Kelly remains in the driver's seat behind the Mystery Chase filly, who starts at 6-1 early odds from post 7 for Rod Starkewski. A pair of two-time winners will also line up in the second split: Rockin Mystery (8-5, Brandon Campbell, post 1), who won the Jim Rogers at Northlands in 1:57.2 two weeks ago, and June Morning (5-2, Mike Hennessy, post 4), who posted a dominant 7-1/2 length win at The Track on 2 on Oct. 21.
To view Saturday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Century Downs.