CUSTARD THE DRAGON SETS WORLD RECORD IN ADIOS ELIM
Custard The Dragon, driven by Montrell Teague, enjoyed a perfect trip sitting behind Powerful Mist until mid stretch then streaked to a world record 1:48.1 triumph in one of three $50,000 elimination divisions of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace at the Meadows on Saturday afternoon, July 23. The July 30 final will feature an estimated $500,000 final. Powerful Mist, a Delaware-bred Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund champion finished third to also qualify for the final.
Montrell Teague hustled Custard The Dragon to the pocket behind Powerful Mist, who blazed the opening three quarters in 1:21.1. These two were all aloneturning down the homestretch, the other starters were no factors. Custard The Dragon, second from just after the start, popped out of second and zoomed past Powerful Mist to win by 2-1/2 lengths.
“[Custard The Dragon] got the ideal trip, the trip that I wanted,” Montrell Teague said. “We found the best horse in there [Powerful Mist] and followed [him until the stretch]. [Custard The Dragon] is best when he explodes at the end of it, the young Teague went on to say, “We’ll probably give [Custard The Dragon} an easier week so he can come back fresh next week.”
The winning mile was the fastest ever by a three-year-old colt pacer over a five-eighths-mile track. The previous record of 1:48.4 was set by Dali winner of the Matron Three-Year-Old title at Dover Downs in November 2008 and was also shared by Shadow Play. It also bettered the former Meadows’ all-age pacing track record of 1:48.4 equaled only a half-hour earlier by Alsace Hanover. The final time was also was the fastest win in the budding career of 20-year-old Montrell Teague, Custard The Dragon’s regular driver.
“I loved the end of it,” Teague said. “Seeing that last fraction was amazing.”
Montrell’s father, George Teague, not only trains Custard The Dragon but also shares ownership with Fannin Racing of Lincoln, Del., Bob Feldman of Narbeth, Pa. and New Yorker Ted Gewertz and in Wind Me Up, also a finalist.
The other Adios $50,000 elims were won by Alsace Hanover and Rollwithitharry both driven by Ron Pierce.