Outlaw C My Shadow overcame his outside post assignment amid sloppy conditions to earn his ninth straight Open victory at Fraser Downs on Friday evening (March 31).

Outlaw C My Shadow's main threat in this week's rainy edition of the $10,000 Open Handicap Pace was Itll Be Fine, the 7-2 second choice who was stepping up in class following back-to-back wins to start his four-year-old season. Itll Be Fine left just to his inside and made a brief appearance on the lead, but driver Brandon Campbell blasted the 2-5 favourite to the top through a sizzling :26.2 opening quarter over a track rated one second slow. Outlaw C My Shadow then stole a breather as he led the field of seven through middle splits of :57.1 and 1:25.2 before Kelly Hoerdt launched Itll Be Fine from the pocket. But that rival was left chasing in vain (and suffered broken equipment) as the pacesetter rolled away to win by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:53.3. Last week's Preferred winner Mach Steady and John Abbott followed more than nine lengths back in third.

Outlaw C My Shadow paid $2.80 to win and $2.10 to place. There was no show wagering.

Trained and co-owned by Connie Kolthammer as part of the Outlaw West Stable, the homebred Shadow Play-Grand Slam Woman gelding is seven-for-seven this year and riding a win streak that extends back to last November. Through that stretch, he's dominated the Open competition winning by a combined 29-1/4 lengths.

Outlaw C My Shadow has earned $35,000 of his $170,322 bankroll during his current six-year-old campaign while pushing his career win total to 19.

With the Pick 5 pool having expanded to over $62,000 and a guaranteed Pick 4 carryover pool totalling more than $26,000, there was an inspiring buzz that resulted in the highest handle in years at Fraser Downs. The all-association handle of $337,845 left President of Harness Racing BC Kelly MacMillan thrilled with what he termed as “renewed fan engagement” while thanking them for their support.

“We’re definitely moving in the right direction,” MacMillan told BC Racebook. “Everyone involved is excited about the interest that’s been shown in our product, both by our supporters locally and through social channels. It’s been great.”

To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs.