More action at Century Mile Saturday

With only seven race days left, Century Mile is set to host another nine-dash harness racing card.

Race 1

Handcuffed (Captive Audience) is making her first start since September. She qualified with a 1:59.2 time as she prepared for her first official start on a mile-length track. She has a lifetime mark of 2:00.4, which she achieved at the Miami Fair.

At 2-1, Hf Number Five (Wink N Atcha) is the morning line favourite. She only had one win in 2023 and paced that mile in 2:01.2 at Century Downs. Her times have ranged from 1:58 to 2:00 over her last few starts.

Run And Buck’s (Domitian Hanover) recent mile times are very competitive in the field. She will have to come from the second tier but has shown she can come off the pace. She has only made five career starts, so it’s hard to tell where her ceiling is.

Race 2

Lumber Baron (Captive Audience) has some of the fastest recent mile times on his lines. He only won once in 2023 but did finish near the top often. He is the morning line favourite at 2-1

Phil Giesbrecht started 2024 off hot! He finished Friday (Jan 5.) with three wins and three second-place finishes. He teams up with Smokn Joe (Bjs Bequia), with whom he has shown chemistry.

Outrageous N Fancy (Outrageous Art) draws the rail and has shown he likes having the front end. He has recently had trouble holding onto the early lead, but he draws into better class.

Race 3

At 2-1, Sweet Carolineema (Malicious) will be gearing up to make it two wins in a row. She paced her last mile in 1:57.4. She also drew post two again, which is a good spot for her.

Baby Badger (Andreoli Hanover) also won her last start in 1:57.4. She took last week off and should be primed to look for a repeat performance.

With the rail, Miss Lucy Lu (Mystery Chase) can be dangerous in this race. The last time she drew the rail, she went wire-to-wire in the pocket and finished second place.

Race 4

It will have to end at some point for Shark Week (Vertical Horizon), but not yet! Let’s make it 16 in a row!

Ernesto Delacruz (Vertical Horizon) won last time out in wire-to-wire fashion. He posted a solid 1:52.2 time and went untested throughout. At 4-1, he is a decent play if you are looking for the upset.

No Collusion (Riverboat King) was scratched in his last scheduled start but now will have fresher legs coming into the weekend’s Preferred. He has shown he can win against this class. At 6-1 morning line odds, he should have a decent price at post time.

Race 5

Hf Pans Shadow (Santanna Blue Chip) has won back-to-back races. His last win was in 1:54.3, which was good enough to be his new lifetime mark.

If Artician (Mystician) gets the early lead, he will be hard to catch. He has had a couple of wire-to-wire wins recently. His last win was 1:56.2, but he has posted faster times,

Tajmania (Tajma Hall) finished tenth in his last start but was racing great before that. He will be reunited with Mike Hennessy. This is a good spot for him to be in, but he will have to come from post-seven.

Race 6

Ak Black Badger (Andreoli Hanover) had a big performance her last time out but just finished second place by a neck. She posted a 1:56.4 mile, one of the fastest in the field. Phil Giesbrecht will be in the bike once again.

Tina La Vida (Santanna Blue Chip) opens as the 2-1 morning line favourite and draws the rail. She has shown she likes to jump to the front end early, but she has needed help holding onto the lead lately.

At 4-1, All Speculation (Sportswriter) is the next top choice. She paced her last win in 1:56.2 but has had trouble since then. If she can regain her form, she will definitely be in the conversation.

Race 7

Tuff As Buff (Sunshine Beach) had an impressive off-the-pace win last week. He paced the mile in 1:57.1 for his 10th win of 2023. He opens at 4-1 odds, but I see no reason he can’t win again.

The last time Mr Dillion (Lambretta) drew post one, he led the race until the stretch and held second place. It’s easy to imagine the same thing should happen this time. He has shown he can be tough to beat if he gets that early lead.

Pongo (Mystician) had won two races before finishing seventh in his last start. He led that race late until the field caught him, and Tuff As Buff won.

Race 8

A potential longshot to watch out for is Tropical Dragon (Custard The Dragon). He was in the Preferred his last time out and finished sixth. However, with class relief and Brandon Campbell in the bike, 10-1 odds is a steal of a deal.

Whiplash Smile (Mystician) is the morning line favourite after winning last time in wire-to-wire fashion. He paced the mile in 1:52.4 for his third win of 2023.

Mickie Mantle (Custard The Dragon) has not had great results since his four-race win streak ended. He finished fourth in the Preferred at Fraser Downs and followed that up with a seventh at Century Mile. He, too, should benefit from class relief.

Race 9

No Bettor Parade (Bettors Delight) has been racing well and even finished second last time. His last win came against $5000 claimers, but he has been competing well against the higher claimers.  

At 2-1, Bud Neigh Kid (Vertical Horizon) will have a good chance in this one. He hasn’t won since Nov 24 but has been earning cheques.

Chaseisonthecase (Mystery Chase) will have to overcome a challenging post position. He hasn’t shown much lately, but this will be his second start in the $7000 class. Blake Piwniuk will be in the bike.

First race at Century Mile is set for  6:15 p.m. MST.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink