Crackle N Burn causes sparks in top Century dash

The Century Downs Open has a new winner – Crackle N Burn (Blue Burner) saw through his first-over mission to capture the Tuesday (Jun. 7) edition at the highest odds of all five harness racing pacers.

The six-year-old gelding watched Shark Week (Michael Hennessy) get by a reluctant Samba Beat (Phil Giesbrecht) for the lead in a :28.2 first quarter. The leaders swapped spots just after completing the half in :57.1, and Crackle N Burn (Nathan Sobey) made the next move, a first-up charge going towards three-quarters in 1:25.1.

Samba Beat resisted the attack as far as mid-stretch, but Crackle N Burn finally drew clear at that point and was in time to deny Outlaw Gunsablazin at the wire in 1:54. Shark Week finished third.

The win payout was $22.70.

CRACKLE N BURN REPLAY

Rodney Starkewski of Lamont owns and trains the homebred out of his mare Crackers Hot Shot. The gelding has won 19 of his 86 lifetime tries and has made $240,162. Two more top-level wins at the Calgary track will get him past a quarter million in earnings.

Driver Brandon Campbell recorded a hat trick on the afternoon.

Century Downs will hold racing again on Saturday, Jun. 11 beginning at 2:15 p.m. MDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink