Circling to the lead by the quarter, Paperback Thriller remained strong on the point to the finish of the $12,000 featured pace at Fraser Downs on Wednesday (March 31).
Driver Brandon Campbell settled Paperback Thriller into second nearing a :29.3 opening quarter, but soon revved the six-year-old Mystery Chase mare from the pocket to the front passing the stands. The Jim Marino trainee took control before a :58.2 half and continued to roll as the field marched to three-quarters in 1:26.4. She gained some separation around the final turn but grew slightly leg weary as odds-on favourite Cusdmagicdragon came flying for the lead late. Though the finish came just in time, with Paperback Thriller holding firm by three-quarter lengths to win in 1:54.4. Rockin Mystery finished third.
Last Comment: December 16, 2020 5:44 am ET | 2 Comment(s) | Jump to Comments
There certainly hasn t been a shortage of win photos for the connections of Major Custard over the past two seasons, but the one from the Saturday (Dec. 12) card at Century Mile could be bittersweet.
Major Custard might have made his final start in Alberta after his co-owner Jim Marino announced that he would be selling a number of his racehorses to concentrate on younger stock. This announcement comes as the province s 2020 harness racing season comes to an end, necessitating a double-header card on Saturday.
Competing in the second of two $22,500 Brad Gunn Breeders Stakes divisions, Major Custard and driver Mike Hennessy sat patiently in fourth during the first half of his contest while Chazmichaelmichael (Kelly Hoerdt) paced through splits of :28.3 and :59.2. Outlaw C My Shadow (Connie Kolthammer) made a move from third just before the half and looped to the lead, leaving Major Custard first up after H