The recent stakes action at Century Mile showcased some thrilling competitions as three-year-old pacing colts and geldings competed in eliminations for the $110,000 (estimated) Western Canada Pacing Derby.
In the first two $14,000 eliminations, Rememberthecustard, a horse owned and bred by Lorne Duffield, has emerged victorious in a nail-biting finish. The colt, driven by Mike Hennessy and trained by him and his father Rod, clocked in at 1:55 flat, narrowly beating the even-money favourite Rum N Custard by a head. The race saw Rememberthecustard sitting in third place for most of the race before sprinting down the stretch to join the battle between One Hot Minute and Rum N Custard, ultimately clinching the win. Rememberthecustard's performance adds to his impressive record, featuring five wins in 25 lifetime starts, and payouts of $36,971 in earnings.
In the second elimination, Grey Horizon continued his impressive streak, securing his fifth consecutive win with a time of 1:55. Driven and trained by Brandon Campbell, Grey Horizon took the lead early and managed to fend off challengers to win by three-quarters of a length. This victory extends Grey Horizon's phenomenal season, bringing his record to seven wins in twelve starts and increasing his lifetime earnings to nearly $250,000.
In addition to the pacing derby preparations, three-year-old pacing fillies were also in action, highlighted by Outlawguns N Roses's dramatic victory in a $10,500 Open event. The filly, driven by David Kelly, edged pacesetter Over Ice in another thrilling finish, clocking in at 1:53.1, just shy of the divisional track record. This win marks her fourth in a row and enhances her season total to nine wins from eleven starts, raising her earnings close to $275,000.
The two-year-old pacing fillies also had a standout performance with Custard Dolce maintaining her dominance, winning her division of the Brad Gunn Stakes in an impressive 1:55 flat, marking her sixth consecutive stakes victory.
In the two-year-old colts and geldings category, the Rocky Mountain Boys Stakes saw two upsets, with Custers Stand and G Ts Captain Solo scoring their first career wins in their respective divisions.
This stakes action sets the stage for the highly anticipated Western Canada Pacing Derby, taking place next Saturday, October 12, at Century Mile. With such remarkable performances on display in the eliminations, fans have much to look forward to in the finals.