Three-year-olds were out in full force Thursday evening at Fraser Downs as the colts sparred in a set of $15,000 divisions of the Robert Murphy Memorial while the fillies butted heads in a pair of $15,000 splits of the Mary Murphy.
Kootenay Santanna took down the first division of the Robert Murphy Memorial in a time of 1:54.1 for driver Rod Therres and trainer Kyle Chadwick.
The son of Santanna Blue Chip-Kootenay Mystic tucked in second behind Just A Rocket Man who powered his way to the quarter pole in :27.2 before taking a backseat to the quarter pole-moving Kootenay Santanna. Therres put the 1-9 favourite on the lead and he proceeded to roll the field through fractions of :56.2 and 1:25.3 before sealing the deal with a final quarter clocked in :28.3. The gelding won by 9-1/4 lengths over runner-up Just A Rocket Man. Rapido Dom was third.
Robert Chadwick of Surrey, B.C. owns the speedball who improved his 2021 record to 2-1-1 from seven starts with the win. The five-time winner has now banked in excess of $66,000.
Heavily favoured Like A Shadow took down the second division of the Robert Murphy Memorial in front-stepping fashion for the tandem of driver Brandon Campbell and Rick Lancaster.
The son of Shadow Play-Magic Number rolled the field through fractions of :29, 1:00.2 and 1:29.3 before kicking home in :28.1 to win by two lengths over Hapuna Beach in 1:57.4. Sam The Cat tagged along to grab the show dough.
It was the fourth straight win – and the fifth of the season – for the career winner in excess of $57,000. RT Enterprises Ltd and Wild Dunes Stable share ownership on the youngster.
If Only Id Known was a chalky winner in the first division and opening leg of the Mary Murphy for three-year-old pacing fillies. Brandon Campbell quarter pole-moved her to the lead and then she went on to post middle splits of 1:00 and 1:29.4 before draw clear to win by a pair of lengths in 1:58.1. Hang On Sloppy was next best, with Inaboysdream finishing third.
J J J Stables and Jim Marino own the six-time winner who has racked up three straight victories while banking over $20,000. The win pushed her lifetime total over $50,000.
Custard Smoothie also came through for driver Brandon Campbell and trainer Jim Marino thanks to her front-stepping victory in her $15,000 division.
Campbell marched her to the top and then cut out fractions of :28.3, :59.3 and 1:29.1 before using a :28.4 final frame to win by three-quarters of a length over Pretty Please. Third prize was earned by Da Magic Coco.
J J J Stables and Jim Marino share ownership on the Custard The Dragon-Artists Rendition. It was just her second win of the season, but the seventh of her career. The win also completed a training triple for Marino, who also found the winner's circle with Tito Santanna in the second race.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Fraser Downs.