Custer registered his first win for the season in a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($550,000-$450,000) race at five furlongs (1,000m) round on Sunday, July 9, 2023.
Custer fell behind horses at the start of the race but soon recovered to go down into second place behind Sudden Flight (Reyan Lewis) as the half-mile (800m) turn approached. The Alford Brown trainee then joined Sudden Flight in the lead as they approached the distance, before taking over in the lane.
Custer began to increase the tempo as jockey Tevin Foster pushed the go button, eventually winning by four lengths. Sudden Flight finished second, followed by Sniper Man (Jawara Steadman) in third. The time totalled 1:03.0 (24.0 x 48.2).
