7-1 shot circles field in Century Preferred

Goodbye Ceia Later (Vertical Horizon) has come into super form in the past two weeks. After circling the field in her return last time, she again passed them all to win the Fillies and Mares Preferred at Century Mile in an upset on Friday (Dec. 6).

The mare trailed from the moment the wings closed, a strategy rewarded by the race-long battle between Outlaw Sharktastic (Nathan Sobey) and Stash The Cookies (Dave Kelly) at the front. Those two raced side-by-side to hot :27, :54.1, and 1:23.2 fractions, splitting the race into two groups of three.  Logan Gillis shifted Goodbye Ceia Later out third-over before the half, and the rearward trio began to reel in the leaders as they approached the final turn.

Goodbye Ceia Later could see them all at the top of the stretch, but she fanned out and flipped the script. She took flight in the final eighth of a mile, storming onto the scene with Outlaw Sharktastic labouring to the line. That mare fought bravely but was just short as Goodbye Ceia Later got up to prevail by a neck in 1:52.3.

Outlaw Sharktastic was second with Pirate Booty (Terry Kaufman) two further lengths back in third.

GOODBYE CEIA LATER REPLAY

Goodbye Ceia Later has now won seven times this season. She was scratched at Fraser Downs due to sickness on Nov. 21 following two poor outings at the top level, but she returned with a victory in a mid-level conditioned event at Century Mile nine days later. Christopher Lancaster trains the mare and shares ownership with Velda Olding. The five-year-old has 18 victories and $145,234 in the bank from 90 career starts.

Nathan Sobey trained and drove half the card’s winners. He captured the first three in succession, with the narrow Preferred defeat preventing what would have been five straight.

Century Mile hosts its next program on Saturday, Dec. 7, beginning at 7:30 p.m. MST.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink