Three $15,000 Robert Millbank Memorial B.C. Breeders Stakes and two $15,000 Betty Millbank Memorial B.C. Breeders Stakes were contested on Thursday (Sept. 28) evening at Fraser Downs as freshman pacers headlined the card.

Wannabeabigstar pocketed the victory in the first Robert Millbank Memorial Stakes division for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

Brandon Campbell grabbed the pocket with the Jim Marino trainee behind Iknowbetter (Scott Knight). Knight and the pacesetter knocked out panels in :27, :56.4 and 1:25.4. In the stretch, Wannabeabigstar made his challenge against leading Iknowbetter. Down to the wire, Wannabeabigstar prevailed by a half-length in 1:54.2 over Iknowbetter. Outlawstaythcourse (John Abbott) finished third. 

Marino co-owns the gelded son of Shadow Play with J J J Stables and Paul Sanders for the rookie's first win in two career starts. He paid $3.50 to win as the favourite.

In the second Robert Millbank Memorial Stakes division, Buddy Knocks won every panel en route to a 1-1/4-length victory.

Knight and the Rod Therres pupil dished out fractions in :28, :58 and 1:27 before using a :28.3 last quarter to win in 1:55.3. Phone Nine One One (Campbell) followed in the pocket throughout the mile to finished second and Mcmoney (Abbott) sprinted in the stretch to take third.

The son of Betterthancheddar and the Sportswriter mare, two-time Breeders Stakes champion Yoga Pants, is owned by Vikko Pajunen. He earned his second win in two career starts. He paid $3.50 to win as the bettors' choice.

Nothing Bugs Me won the third Robert Millbank Memorial Stakes division in gate-to-wire fashion by open lengths.

Therres doubled up in stakes victories and, in race seven, took his own trainee from post seven and right to the lead. With every panel in :28.1, :58.1 and 1:27, Therres and Nothing Bugs Me distanced themselves from the pack. At the wire, Nothing Bugs Me had earned himself a five-length triumph in 1:56.1. Key Dragon (Knight) was second with Pull The Trigger (Kelly Hoerdt) taking the show spot.

Therres co-owns the Custard The Dragon colt with Ralph Therres, Blair Miller and Colby Folster. He earned his second win in two starts. As the second choice, he paid $4.60 to win.

In the card opener, Campbell and Marino teamed up for a win in the Betty Millbank Memorial for two-year-old pacing fillies.

Over Ice and Campbell set the tempo in a first panel in :29.1 and just kept on rolling from there. After two more fractions of :59.4 and 1:29.1, Over Ice powered home to a 7-1/2-length romp in 1:56.4. Lumby Dragon (Phil Giesbrecht) finished second and Is He Watching (Therres) was third.

J J J Stables bred and owns the two-year-old daughter of Custard The Dragon and the American Ideal mare, Arm In Arm. She picked up her second win in two career tries.

Great Emotion wrapped up the Thursday evening stakes action with a win in the race eight Betty Millbank Memorial Stakes division.

Giesbrecht and the Christopher Lancaster trainee sat fourth through panels in :28 and :58.3, set by Vintage Lass (Hoerdt). After the half, Giesbrecht pulled his right line and sent Great Emotion on a sprint to the lead. She was the first to the three-quarters in 1:26.4 from the outside. Once she cleared, Great Emotion took advantage of the open track to win by 11-3/4 lengths in 1:56. Senorita Draco (Campbell) was second. Martini Please (Therres) completed the top three.

Michelle Danroth owns the Domitian Hanover filly as she earned her second win in five starts. She returned $3.50 to win to her backers.

In the finale, Miss Itunes won the $10,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred with Giesbrecht back in the bike for Lancaster in a new track record time.

Miss Itunes took the early lead and never looked back as she handed out panels in :26.4, :56 and 1:22.3. She cleared the wire by 6-1/2 lengths in a career-best 1:51.1. Century Mach (Hoerdt) took the photo for second and Western Summit (Campbell) ended in third.

Owned by Donna Wyse, the six-year-old Mystery Chase mare won her fifth race of the season and her 21st career tally. She boasts $221,063 in career earnings. She paid $2.90 to win as the 8-5 favourite. 

With a 1:51.1 final time, the mark was a new track record for aged pacing mares. The previous record of 1:51.2 was set last week on Sept. 21, by Miss Itunes.

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