Custard Or Nothing takes it all in Betty Millbank Memorial

Custard Or Nothing (Custard The Dragon) scooped all the cash in a pacesetting upset harness racing victory in the Betty Millbank Memorial first leg for two-year-old pacing fillies on Wednesday (Sep. 28) at Fraser Downs.

The filly floated out from post six for Rod Therres, seeing the back of the faster-leaving Side Piece (Brandon Campbell), who claimed the front. Custard Or Nothing pressed on though, trekked two-wire for the entire opening quarter of :28.3 to take the lead.

Custard Or Nothing cruised unopposed through middle fractions of :59 and 1:28.2 and was gifted a big lead heading into the final turn as Side Piece broke stride. Even-money favourite Snowpeak (David Kelly) charged down the stretch, but Custard Or Nothing was too far gone and stopped the clock a length ahead in 1:57.4.

Snowpeak finished second. Westcoast Captive (Blaine Chappell) was third. The win price was $19.10.

CUSTARD OR NOTHING REPLAY

Custard Or Nothing is two-for-three in her rookie year. The 1:57.4 clocking beat her maiden-breaking mile by four seconds. Therres trains the filly and shares ownership with fellow Vancouver residents Blair Miller, Dairen Edwards, and Veikko Pajunen.

There were two divisions of the Robert Millbank Memorial first leg for freshman pacers on the card.

Mickie Mantle (Custard The Dragon) scored for Kelly Hoerdt and trainer Richard Lancaster in 1:57.2 in the opener. Hoerdt, a resident of Beaumont, co-owns the colt – a $27,000 yearling purchase – with Fred Gilbert of Brandon.

Domi (Therres) finished second over Son Of A Beach (John Abbott).

MICKIE MANTLE REPLAY

Lukes Proclamation (Captive Audience) captured the other division by two lengths in 1:57.1. Michael Hennessy steered him to victory for trainer John Hudon. The gelding, owned by Derek Stout of Camrose, previously won a division of the ABSS Rising Star and is three-for-five to date.

Rilkoff (Campbell) passed Dillon James (Therres) late for place.

LUKES PROCLAMATION REPLAY

Fraser Downs continues racing on Thursday, Sep. 29 with two divisions each of the Robert Murphy and Mary Murphy for sophomore pacers. The 10-race program will begin at 7:00 p.m. PDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink