Racing returns to Century Mile after cancellations

Harness racing returns Saturday (Jan.20)  to Century Mile after the last three cards have been cancelled due to the weather. The forecast shows a chance of scattered flurries throughout the afternoon and the temperature is expected to be around -14 °C at post time. The Jackpot Pick 5 starts with the Filly & Mare Preferred in the seventh race.

RACE 1

 I will take a chance and hopefully get Tuff As Buff (Sunshine Beach) at a decent price. He opened at 6-1 in the program even though he won in this class a couple of starts ago in 1:57.1. He does have to overcome post-eight but will have Mike “Hot Hands” Hennessy in the bike.

Midnight Mover (Mystician) found success his last time out and got to the winner’s circle once again. He paced the mile in 1:56.4 and will again team up with Blake Piwniuk.

Mr Dillion (Lambretta) finished just behind Midnight Mover last time and will be in the conversation again.

RACE 2

Airline Pilot (Hes Watching) led most of his last race but got caught late and finished sixth. He won his previous start in 1:55.2 after enjoying a nice pocket trip. He opens as the favourite at 2-1 morning line odds.

Outlaw Witfit (Smart Shark) is making his 2024 debut. He wants to forget his last start after finishing seventh. However, his mile times are competitive with the rest of the field.

At 3-1, Radar Enforced (Sportswriter) draws the rail, which has sometimes been helpful for him. His last mile time of 2:00.1 is far from his best, but if he is firing on all cylinders, he should be near the top.

RACE 3

Ak Black Badger (Andreoli Hanover) will be looking to make it two wins in a row. Post position has never been an issue for the MSSBA Silk Lace champion as she continues battling in Alberta. Her last win came with a 1:58 mile time, two-fifths of a second slower than her lifetime mark.

Short Sell Hanover (Bettors Delight) has had some time off since her last start, where she won in 1:56.4. The rest will undoubtedly be helpful, but it may take a start before she jumps right back to top form.

With back-to-back seventh place finishes, Hazels Wildling (Dayton Boy) will do everything to get out of the basement. However, her mile times are similar to the favourites so that she will be competitive.

RACE 4

Lumber Baron (Captive Audience) won his last start in 1:57.3. Post-seven shouldn’t cause any issues, but he must find a good spot early.

Mister Moose (Mystician) will line up just to the left of Lumber Baron and will have a slight advantage at the word go. He hasn’t been able to hold onto the last lead in his last several starts, but he usually finishes nicely.

In his last race, Smokn Joe (Bjs Bequia) finished just behind Lumber Baron. I see this race playing out almost the same, but I must factor in Mister Moose.

RACE 5

Kelly Hoerdt will be in the bike with the Prince Edward Island-bred Sweet Carolineema (Malicious). She has a win and second place finish in her last two starts. She won in 1:57.4 to finish off 2023. If she hits her top form, she will be hard to beat.

Baby Badger (Andreoli Hanover) also won her last start of 2023 in 1:57.4 but followed that up with a fourth place finish in her first start of the new year. She should also be in the conversation if she hits her top form.

Iknowyouknow (Sportswriter) has not had the best results, but her mile times fit well in this class.

RACE 6

The Dickens (Custard The Dragon) finished 2023 with a win and paced the mile in 1:53.3. He has been in the conversation a lot and has only finished outside the top three once in his last six starts.

Up Yer Kilt (Mystician) has similar results and has finished outside the top three only once in his last six starts. He had one win during that time and paced the mile in 1:55.1.

Hf Pans Shadow (Santanna Blue Chip) had back-to-back wins to end 2023. He paced the mile in 1:55.3 and 1:54.4. His first start of 2024 was a fifth-place finish, but he will surely be looking to bounce back here.

RACE 7

At 3-5 odds, Daisy Corvette (Mystician) has won back-to-back races. Her last mile times were 1:53.4 and 1:54.1. Post seven should cause no problems, and she will likely be the heavy favourite.

Outlaw Allie Oops (Blue Burner) is at 8-1 morning line odds if you are looking for a potential price. She is making her Filly & Mare Preferred debut, but her recent mile times are worthy of the new opportunity.  

If Only Id Known (Shadow Play) has been a recognizable name at Fraser Downs in the Filly & Mare Preferred, as she won three in a row at one point. She fits in well with the crowd at Century Downs and likely needs a start or two to readjust to the track size.

RACE 8

Diva Amour (Custard The Dragon) has finished in the top three in six consecutive races and deserves 8-5 morning line odds. She won her last start in 1:57.2 and dominated with a wire-to-wire effort.

My Little Chloe (Lambretta) ended 2023 with four straight races, finishing first or second. Her first race of 2024 wasn’t her finest performance, as she finished fifth. The time off should serve her well.

At 6-1, Donoharm (Bettors Delight) could be a decent value play. She has two big-time second-place finishes in her recent start but has not won since August 2022.

RACE 9

With some of the fastest times, Wine Thirty (Vertical Horizon) earns his 2-1 morning line odds. He visited the winner’s circle on three occasions last year and has a lifetime mark of 1:53.4.

Blue Powder (Blue Burner) won his last start and paced the mile in 1:55.4. He only won once in 2023 but is off to a hot start this year.

Armycaptin Hanover (Captaintreacherous) has been struggling with some upper classes like his counterparts. He finished ninth in the Preferred on New Year’s Eve. His mile times are comparable to the other favourites.

RACE 10

The five-year-old gelding Came A Cavalier (Domitian) has won three of his six starts. He has only finished worse than second place once during that time. He has shown he can win off the pace or wire-to-wire so that the rail will help him.

Retros Mystery (Mystery Chase) has won four of his last six starts and has done them all wire-to-wire. It will be an early battle for the front end, but he needs to ensure he has enough energy to hold off Came A Cavalier’s deep stretch.

Light My Shadow (Shaw Play) will line up behind Came A Cavalier and Retros Mystery. He will have an excellent chance to find early positioning as the two favourites battle it.

RACE 11

A big battle between the two Manitoba-bred mares. I like Go On Bow Bow (Lambretta) slightly more as she has back-to-back thirds and a little faster recent mile times. She paced her last win in 1:56.0.

However, don’t count Miso Classy (In The Irons) out. She has back-to-back fourths, and her times are similar to her opponent. She also paced her last win in 1:56.0.

Cheese Whiz (Betterthancheddar) finished second in her last start and beat out the two favourites. That performance was a big step up from her recent starts. At 4-1, she could have a price worth jumping on at post time.

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

For complete race entries, click here.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink