The connections of the other six starters in Fraser Downs’ Open Pace on Sunday (Feb. 10) knew what they were up against when they saw that Da Magician had drawn the rail for the $12,000 tilt, but, as the win photo showed, the proceedings weren’t merely a formality.

The Serge Masse-trained and Scott Knight-driven Da Magician ($3.60) ultimately got the win in Fraser’s featured event (Race 3), but he sure got a bit of a late scare in the dash that was contested over a ‘good’ track that was rated one second slow.

Da Magician, who was sent postward the public’s odds-on choice, left from Post 1 and controlled things through the fractions (:27.3, :59, 1:27.2). Three More Smiles (who was driven by Paul Davies) had sat second through the opening half-mile before he tipped out for a first-up move prior to the three quarters.

Da Magician didn’t have any issue putting Three More Smiles away in the final quarter, but, after having raced third through the mile, it was the Jim Marino-driven Boiling Oar that came calling late and gave Da Magician a run for his money.

Boiling Oar advanced late and provided Da Magician with a bit of a scare, but it was the latter that held on and paced under the wire first in 1:55.1. The Kelly Hoerdt-driven Iwontdothatagain, who was the public’s second choice at 8/5, came calling from the backfield late and finished third.

The win was the third of Da Magician’s five-race campaign and the 30th of his career. The son of Dragon Again has now banked $19,440 this season and $361,889 overall.

Da Magician, who is a five-year-old gelded bay, is owned by his trainer, Serge Masse (of Edmonton, Alberta).

To view the harness racing results for Sunday at Fraser, click the following link: Sunday Results – Fraser Downs.