Century Downs: Stakes finals headlined Saturday program

Two rich stakes finals for 3-year-old pacers, the C$94,100 Gord and Illa Rumpel Memorial for fillies and the C$84,790 Ralph Klein Memorial for colts and geldings, were held on Saturday evening at Century Downs Racetrack and Casino, which is located near Calgary, Alberta.

Century Gianna (Kelly Hoerdt) led at the 28 2/5 quarter and 59 second half-mile marker in the Rumpel Memorial, but Missitunes (Nathan Sobey) swept up three-wide from second-over and cleared to the point before the 1:27 three-quarters. Meanwhile, Jessies Girl (Jamie Gray), who was ninth and last at the half and still in that spot early in the backstretch, came with a big three-wide move of her own that carried her into the second position on the far turn and into the lead by the time they turned for home.

After Jessies Girl took command, the only foe she had to worry about was Blue Star Dreaming (Michael Hennessy), who was able to slip out three-wide on the final bend after getting shuffled back from the pocket, but Jessies Girl held on gamely to win by a length in 1:56 4/5. Missitunes wound up third.

Douglas Stout trains Jessies Girl, a daughter of Badlands Hanover, for owner/breeder Derek Stout. Jessies Girl picked up her sixth win from 12 career starts, and she has now earned C$67,981. She was a 10-1 shot and paid $22.60.

The Klein Memorial was much less action-packed as 1-5 choice Major Custard (Brandon Campbell) went right to the top from post two, was in control through stations of 28 1/5, 59 1/5, and 1:27 2/5, and prevailed by a length and three-quarters in 1:55 3/5. Criminal Record (Hoerdt) was second from the pocket, with Speaking Of Art (Keith Clark) back in third.

A gelded son of Custard The Dragon, Major Custard is trained by Michael Campbell for owners J J J Stables and Jim Marino. Major Custard, who has won all seven of his races in 2020, has an overall record of 12-2-0 from 14 appearances and has banked C$177,445 in his life. He returned $2.40 to win.