Campbell, Discontinued Leave No Doubt in Moore’s Mile Romp

Horse racing walks a fine razor’s edge. On one side of the sharp, thin blade you have smiles, victory and justification; on the other lurks tears, disappointment or something far worse.

Wednesday evening at Calgary’s Century Downs Nathan Sobey was driving My Dragon Rocks, who was striding smartly in the third race. A split second later the horse, who in 39 starts had never broken stride before, did just that. Then he fell spilling Sobey to the ground.

Sobey ended up in hospital with a broken T2 vertebrae and a cracked left shoulder blade.

Also involved in a race that was declared no contest was Preston Shaw who suffered five broken ribs and a severe concussion.

“I’m done for a while,” said Sobey. “The doctors aren’t worried about my spine. It won’t need surgical intervention. The shoulder blade is another matter.

“The rotator cuff has to be looked at too.

“I have no idea on recovery time.”

Neither does Shaw, whose wife, Emily, posted on social media that her husband is “pretty banged up but incredibly lucky. We’re spending a couple days in ICU… but he’s in good hands. Thank you for all the calls and messages — we’re feeling very grateful he’s okay.”

Just three days later came the other side of the razor.

On Saturday afternoon - in the rich $118,000 Shirley McClellan Breeders’ Stakes - Sobey’s Mademechangemymind was entered in what projected to be a dynamic duel against Custard Dolce, who had won 10 races in a row for trainer Jamie Gray, who also owns the three-year-old filly with Jackson Wittup, Max Gibb and Derek Wilson.

The race for three-year-old fillies was profiled last week in this space at the horses.com.

“It will take a trip or catch (Custard Dolce) on an off day to beat her,” mused Sobey, who trains and owns Mademechangemymind.

(Custard Dolce) is a very versatile horse. A very talented, special versatile horse.”

Sure enough, on a wet, windy afternoon that’s exactly what happened.

Subbing in for Sobey, Mike Hennessy got the perfect trip, sitting on Phil Giesbrecht and Custard Dolce’s back all the way around.

Pulling out just before the sixteenth pole, Mademechangemymind, owned and trained by Sobey, drew within half a length, then a quarter length, then a head.

“My heart was in my throat,” said Sobey.

At the wire it was too close to call.

“I thought we ran out of racetrack,” said Sobey, who had to watch the race on TV from his home in Calgary.

“I thought we were second.”

But then the photo lamp stopped blinking. The result showed Mademechangemymind the winner by four inches.

“I said it would take a perfect trip and that’s what happened,” said Sobey.

“Mike did everything text book. I told him he was either going to be in front with Custard Dolce right behind or we were going to be on Custard Dolce’s back.

“Given the weather and the track conditions I’m glad its was the second (scenario).

“Being on Custard Dolce’s back was the only way to beat her,” said Sobey, who in four previous races against Custard Dolce had never defeated her before.

The mile went in 2:00 1/5.

Sobey said the pain is “manageable as long as I don’t move.

“Everything happens for a reason,” said Sobey, who knew right away that his shoulder was either broken or dislocated.

“My crew has done a great job while I’ve been away and Mike (Hennessy) has agreed to drive Mademechangemymind the rest of the way.

“But it certainly isn’t how I wanted the year to go.

“I really needed that win. And, I’m still alive.”

The Shirley McClellan was one of two big stakes races on Saturday’s card. The other was the $90,000 Moore’s Mile Breeders’ stakes for three-year-old boys.

The latter couldn’t have been more dissimilar to the Shirley McClellan as Discontinued destroyed his opponents with a typically, perfect, ‘Brandon Campbell’ drive.

Getting saddled with yet another outside post - something which seemingly has besieged him for years - Campbell left from post eight and quickly found an open five hole which he smartly dropped into behind the pace set by Outlawminutbyminut and driver Logan Gillis.

With pressure coming from behind in the form of Don’t Delete Me, Campbell pulled Discontinued to the outside down the backstretch.

“I was a little nervous moving that early - especially the way the wind was blowing up the backstretch but I was forced,” said Campbell.

It didn’t matter. Campbell and Discontinued, usually the pace setter, swooped past the leaders around the final turn and into a quick five-length lead which he easily held to the finish line ahead of Momas Work Of Art.

“I tapped him a bit when I got beside Logan and he picked up the bit and started pacing,” said Campbell.

“I’m pretty happy especially after they keep sticking me with bad posts.

“When I got post 8 I just shrugged and said ‘Of course; go figure.’

“It’s just a number behind the gate. When you’ve got the best horse you’ve got the best horse.

“I knew he could come from behind. He got a chance (Saturday) to show it and he did.”

The victory was Discontinued fourth in six starts this year.

The mile went in 1:58 1/5 which was solid given the conditions.

“Another nice colt for us,” said Campbell. “I’ve been blessed and lucky.

“It was good.”

STOCK REPORT

Friday and Saturday’s thoroughbred cards at Century Mile were both cancelled because of the track conditions. Last Friday’s card will now take place on Tuesday June 24 (post time 6:15). Horsemen will enter for this Friday and Saturday’s cards on Monday June 23.

The two cancelled stakes scheduled for this past Saturday - the Spangled Jimmy for older horses which attracted Journal Handicap winner Al Reichert - and the inaugural Red McKenzie Handicap for older fillies and mares - where 2024 Horse of the Year Big Hug will be heavily favoured - will be contested Friday June 27.

* Majestic Oops, who I wrote about on May 6 in this space, won her third in a row south of the border. Previously raced in Alberta, after winning an allowance and a black type $200,000 stake at Oaklawn Park Majestic Oops won again taking the $100,000 Lady’s Secret at Monmouth Park by more than four lengths in the slop for Alberta owners and breeders Bill and Sandy Dory and Janet Kropp.

She is now being pointed to the $500,000 Molly Pitcher on July 19 also at Monmouth in New Jersey.

Bill Dory and former trainer Craig Smith believe Majestic Oops, now five-years-old, is simply getting better with age.

“We always believed she had potential,” said Dory.

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Author: The Turcottes: The Remarkable Story of a Horse Racing Dynasty.