More action Saturday at Century Mile

The eight-dashes card at Century Mile on Saturday (Dec. 23) is the second last harness racing card of the year.

Race 1

Fall Out Girl (Andreoli Hanover) has one win at Century Mile since coming from Manitoba. She paced the mile in 1:57.4 but has been keeping things close since then. She opened at 4-1 and could be the value play to start the day.

The 2-1 favourite, Iknowyouknow (Sportswriter), hasn’t won since September at Track On 2. The odds maker shines favour on her because of the times she has posted since. They are equal, if not better, to most in the field. However, she just hasn’t been able to win.

If you ignore Baby Badger’s (Andreoli Hanover) last start, she, too, has posted remarkably similar times to everyone else. The last time she drew the rail, she went wire-to-wire in third place. She could be a difference maker in this race.

Race 2

Mr Dillion (Lambretta) has yet to win in 2023 but has a good chance on Saturday to change that. He’s taken the early lead in his last two starts and lost late down the stretch.

Kootenay Lager (Vertical Horizon) at 4-1 could bring some value to the exotic wagers. He hasn’t won in some time, too, but he has been lurking in the top five. Having drawn close to the rail, he should have some early space to find a good spot early.

Light My Shadow (Shadow Play) is the next best with 5-2 odds. He also has been lurking in the top five over his last eight starts. However, he is coming from Fraser Downs, but he has raced at Century Mile before.

Race 3

Yru So Sirius (Captive Audience) is coming off a winning performance. He went wire-to-wire and paced the mile in 1:57.1. His times are around a full second slower than the other betting favourites, but he has shown that he can keep up when needed.

The morning line favourite, Mister Moose (Mystician), opened at 2-1. He has finished outside the top three only once in his last eight starts. He also has a win where he paced the mile in 1:56.1 over those eight starts.

At 4-1, Panda Beer (Vertical Horizon) is the next choice. He had back-to-back wins a couple of starts ago, and he paced the mile in 1:56.2 and 1:55.3. If he performs similarly, it should be his race to win.

Race 4

Thoughts Of A Fool (Thinking Out Loud) has been racing well as of late. He hasn’t finished worse than second in seven races. He also won in four of those seven races and achieved a new lifetime mark of 1:54.2.

With 4-1 odds, Hf Pans Shadow (Santanna Blue Chip) draws the rail. He won his last start with a career-best 1:55.2 mile. He won wire-to-wire the last time he pulled the rail, so expect a similar effort.

Handsome Dan (State Treasurer) had a win two weeks ago in 1:54.0. A performance like that should be good enough to beat this field. However, he has had some flaws lately, but he is due for another good race.

Race 5

Retros Mystery (Mystery Chase) has won three of his last four starts. He has been on the top horses in this class for some time. He has posted 1:55.4, 1:54.4 and 1:55 in his previous wins.

Bud Neigh Kid has the highest claim tag attached and opened at 4-1 morning line odds. He won three straight races against a higher class before retiring in claimers. However, the move hasn’t been kind to him.

Making the trip from Fraser Downs, Came A Cavalier (Domitian) gets the rail. He won his last start at Fraser Downs, where he drew the rail. Even with that performance, he opened at 8-1 odds but could be a factor down the stretch.

Race 6

The Century Horse Racing Club entry, Tina La Vida (Santanna Blue Chip), hasn’t finished worse than second place in her last five starts. She won twice in those previous five starts and paced the miles 1:58.2 and 1:56.4.

All Speculation (Sportswriter) finished third in her last time out and won her start. She paced the winning mile in 1:56.2. She only had two wins in 2023 but finished in the top three 15 times in her 24 starts.

At 15-1 odds, Ak Black Badger (Andreoli Hanover) is a good option for a potential upset. She has had back-to-back wins amongst other $10,000 Claimers and posted decent mile times. She won in 1:57.3 and 1:58.3, which are similar to the favourites.

Race 7

Who else but Shark Week (Vertical Horizon)?

Ernesto Delacruz (Vertical Horizon) has finished second place in five of his last six starts in the Preferred. He won it once in 1:52 when Shark Week took a week off.

No Collusion (Riverboat King) also beat Ernesto Delacruz once in the Preferred when Shark Week was off. He won his in 1:51.2, which is his career’s best time.

Race 8

Tropical Dragon (Custard The Dragon) has won back-to-back races but will make his second consecutive start under trainer Travis Ellis. He won his last race with an impressive 1:53.4 mile.

Even though Herd Immunity (Rockin Image) opened at 6-1, he has a good chance of upsetting the field. He has a recent win where he paced the mile in 1:53.4, his new lifetime mark. Post-nine can be difficult to win from, but I like his chances.

Shir Gain (Blue Burner) is making his third start at Century Mile after racing at Fraser Downs. He posted a 1:53.4 mile in his last start, but he finished fourth. The change in class will help him out.

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

For complete race entries, click here.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink