Daisy Corvette wows, Santa battles The Grinch at Century Mile

Daisy Corvette (Mystician) produced the pari-mutuel harness racing highlight on Friday (Dec. 22) at Century Mile with a blazing third-quarter move, but the renewal of The Race to Save Christmas may have stolen the show.

In the non-festive feature, Daisy Corvette dropped back as the gate left and trailed the field of six through first-half splits of :27.3 and :56.3. Brandon Campbell then unleashed the mare approaching the far turn, and she rocketed past every opponent to lead at three-quarters in 1:26.4.

Only Sunshineatthebeach (Jamie Gray) could stick with her down the lane, but Daisy Corvette was in control as she came home to win by two-and-three-quarter lengths in 1:54.1.

Sunshineatthebeach cruised home for place. Outlaw Sharktastic (Nathan Sobey) completed the triactor.

DAISY CORVETTE REPLAY

Daisy Corvette has won six of her past eight starts, including three Century Mile Preferreds. Five of those victories came after moving to the Shanisty Andres barn when Tammy Murschell of Medicine Hat took ownership in October. The four-year-old has won 12 of her 41 lifetime starts and has now amassed $111,802 in bankroll. She also holds the record for an aged pacing mare at Century Mile.

In The Race To Save Christmas, Santa Claus and Rudolph aimed to defeat The Grinch in back-to-back years. Adopting his usual style, the green menace urged Max to the front as the wings folded for the half-mile faceoff. Kris Kringle did not spend much time on the helmet, directing Rudolph to guide his open sleigh to the outside on the turn.

The Grinch aimed to make off with Christmas, but Rudolph shone bright and flew to the lead in mid-stretch. St. Nick, perhaps risking a spot on his own naughty list, waved a cheeky goodbye to The Grinch on the way past.  Father Christmas then bid a Merry Christmas and a good night to the cheering children at the rail as Rudolph coasted home to keep Christmas safe again.

Santa Claus and The Grinch came back to the winner’s circle for a farewell before returning to the North Pole and the outskirts of Whoville for another year.

SANTA CLAUS VS. THE GRINCH REPLAY

It was their second race of the evening; the festive pair also tangled at Woodbine Mohawk Park. To read about that battle, click here.

Racing at Century Mile returns on New Year’s Eve.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink