Over the past two seasons, pacing gelding Need You So Bad has been nearly unbeatable at Fraser Downs. On Thursday night, he didn't stray from his past successes.
Competing in the $7,500 fourth leg of the Robert Murphy Breeders Stake for three-year-old colts and geldings, Need You So Bad was settled into the pocket by trainer-driver Bill Davis while longshot Astronomical Storn (Rod Therres) carved out fractions of :27.2, :57.2 and 1:26. Davis then popped the pocket around the final turn before sprinting away to a two-length victory in 1:55.4 over Cold Finger (Jim Marino) and Hosisahos (Brandon Campbell), who rallied strongly from an early break to grab show honours.
JJJ Stables of Aldergrove, B.C. owns Need You So Bad (American Ideal - Sending Forth), who now sports a career record of 12 wins in 15 starts at the B.C. oval.
While not sporting as many wins as his divisional rival, Premium Stock has been no slouch. Heading into his Murphy division, Premium Stock had yet to miss the board in 12 starts. Start No. 13 wasn't unlucky as Jim Marino guided his trainee to a 1:56.2 score in the first split.
Laying off the pace in fourth as Art Again (John Abbott) paced through fractions of :27.1, :58.1 and 1:27.3, Premium Stock was right-lined by Marino on the backstretch and on top of the field by a neck turning for home. That margin was stretched out to a length and three quarters over Homesick Angel (John Chappell) with Art Again just back of that one in third.
Marino co-owns Premium Stock (Blissfull Hall - Follow Your Rosa) along with Cameron Gardiner of Cloverdale, B.C.
The win was one of five on the card for Marino, who later clicked with Loneridge Apache in Race 5 and Kim Chee in Race 6 before back-to-back scores for Rene Goulet trainees Mood Light in Race 9 and Cenalta Fireworks in Race 10
The single division in the fourth leg of the Betty Millbank Memorial Stake for two-year-old pacing fillies went to Millbanks Writer, going gate-to-wire and hanging on by neck to win in 2:01 over Fast Lane Elektra (Kevin Anderson).
To view charted results and payouts for Thursday night's card of harness racing at Fraser, click the following link: Thursday Results - Fraser Downs.