Colt and geldings pacers were the stars of the show Thursday at Fraser Downs as the oval hosted the $35,000 Dan Ingram Memorial Open Final for two-year-olds plus the $30,000 Sales Stake #22 for sophomores.
Lets Tie One On enjoyed a ground-saving trip throughout the $35,000 Dan Ingram Memorial Open Final, and when he shook loose in the lane he had more than enough late kick to prevail over the odds-on favourite, Joe Rich, in a time of 1:55.4.
Jimmyachance hustled the field through fractions of :27.3, :58.1 and 1:26.4, but he was collared by a pair of foes in deep stretch. Joe Rich, who was sent off at odds of 4-5, was one of them and the other was the eventual winner, Lets Tie One On.
Trainer/driver Kelly Hoerdt rallied the son of Vertical Horizon-Just One More home in :28.1 to win by a half-length margin over Joe RIch in 1:55.4. Jimmyachance rounded out the top three in the five-horse affair.
Hoerdt shares ownership on the colt with Derek Gilbert and Christopher Lancaster. The win was his fourth of the season from nine attempts and the $17,500 winner’s share lifted his lifetime earnings to $63,943.
Like A Shadow was second across the finish line in the Sales Stake #22, but was later promoted to the top spot as a result of an interference infraction committed by Kootenay Santanna.
It was Kootenay Santanna who marched to the early lead for driver Rod Therres and laid down panels of :27, :58 and 1:27.2 before using a :28.2 closing quarter to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Like A Shadow in 1:56. Sam The Cat and Hapuna Beach rounded out the top four finishers.
A judges inquiry, however, resulted in Kootenay Santanna being placed back to second for causing interference to Like A Shadow on the way to the quarter pole. Like A Shadow was then promoted to the top spot for driver Brandon Campbell and trainer Richard Lancaster.
RT Enterprises Ltd and Wild Dunes Stable share ownership on the homebred who improved his 2021 record to 8-5-2 from 23 assignments. The nine-time winner watched his bankroll swell to $105,945 with the victory.
Tiempo Hanover took down top honours in the $10,000 Open Handicap for pacers thanks to his gate-to-wire triumph in 1:53.4.
Brandon Campbell had him sail through early fractions of :27.2, :57.3 and 1:25.3 before using a :28.1 kicker to win by a length over Armycaptin Hanover. Taking home the bronze metal was Waiting Ona River.
Campbell trains the seven-year-old son of Western Ideal-Tempest Blue Chip for Jodi Loftus, Dana Shore and Raymond Henry. The gelding is now five for 18 on the year. The 20-time winner is quickly closing in on $200,000 in lifetime earnings.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Fraser Downs.