$90,000 Breeders’ Stakes headline Saturday card at Century Downs

The harness racing meet at Century Downs continues this weekend with a pair of  Breeders’ stakes, and the fields of three-year-old pacers are itching to go. Both finals will be conducted on Saturday afternoon and each will have a $90,000 purse.

RACE 8: SHIRLEY MCCLELLAN BREEDERS’ STAKE THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLIES FINAL – $90,000

1. 1. Cora Cora Cora (4-1)
   2. Caviar N Crackers (5-2)
   3. Super Cozey (12-1)
   4. Promise Kept (8-1)
   5. Waitinonawoman (20-1)
   6. Festiveus (6-1)
   7. Handcuffed (10-1)
   8. My Little Chloe (10-1)
   9. G Ts Skyla (2-1)

AE1 Cenalta Token

G Ts Skyla (Mystician) had the fastest elimination time last week with a speedy 1:55.0, now her personal best. She’s had a solid 2023, with two wins in three starts. G Ts Skyla has only finished worse than second place once in seven-lifetime starts. It’s hard to imagine a situation where the young filly is far from the top at the end of the race.

One horse that could cause some problems more G Ts Skyla is Cora Cora Cora (Captive Audience). She draws the rail and will have an excellent chance to set up the race in a good position. Cora Cora Cora finished second just behind G Ts Skyla last week in the eliminations and posted the second fastest mile time of the eliminations. She has yet to win in 2023 but has a good chance in the $90,000 finals. Cora Cora Cora’s trainer, Jamie Gray, will once again be in the sulky with her, and the duo will likely be near the top coming down the stretch.

Festiveus (Vertical Horizon) won her elimination pace in 1:56.1, putting her career total wins at three. Her performance was good enough to earn her a new lifetime mark. She will start the race in the middle of the track, but if she can find a good spot early, there should be little reason why she can’t be near the top at the end. Michael Hennessy will climb aboard once again as they look to pick up a significant cheque in the finals.

Trey’s Picks: 9-1-6

RACE 10: MOORE’S MILE BREEDERS’ STAKE THREE-YEAR-OLD COLTS & GELDINGS FINAL – $90,000

1. Handsome Dan (4-1)
2. Tin Can Timmy (7-2)
3. Opulent Dragon (10-1)
4. General Custard (6-1)
5. Over The Horizon (10-1)
6. Catfish Jack (8-1)
7. Virtual Horizon (4-5)
8. Lumber Baron (20-1)
9. You So Sirius (12-1)

AE1 The Dickens

Virtual Horizon (Vertical Horizon) wants to continue his perfect six-for-six season. He won his elimination in 1:55.0 which was the fastest of the two. He finished strong with a 28.2 final quarter of a mile time. Virtual Horizon has a lifetime mark of 1:53.3, which he pulled out in the ABSS Marksman Final. Brandon Campbell will be in the bike again, and the duo will likely be heavy favourites at post-time.

Handsome Dan (State Treasurer) almost ended Virtual Horizon’s perfect season last week but ultimately lost by just a head. He has only won once this year but has consistently been near the top. Handsome Dan has five top-three finishes in eight starts this year. Drawing the inside will help things out.

I will go with General Custard (Custard The Dragon) to round out my top three. He won his elimination in 1:56.1 and is coming into the final with back-to-back wins. His lifetime mark 1:55.3 is up there with the rest of the field and will likely have some value at post-time. He has only finished outside the top three once this year, and he will probably be near the top at the end of the race.

Trey’s Picks: 7-1-4

Century Downs has nine other races scheduled for Saturday (June 24), and the post time for the first race is at 1:15 p.m. MDT. There are also nine races on tap Friday night starting at 5:15 p.m. MDT.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink