Making his season's debut a winning one on Friday night (Feb. 9), Sunshine Boy picked up where he left off at Fraser Downs, at the head of the Preferred class, for trainer Jim Marino.

Driven by Scott Knight, Sunshine Boy capped off the opening week of the 2024 harness racing season at Fraser Downs with a 1:53.2 triumph in Friday's $10,000 featured finale for Marino and his partners, J J J Stables and Paul Sanders.

A nine-time winner at the fall Fraser meet, Sunshine Boy delivered as the 4-5 favourite in his return, clearing to command after being parked from the outside post through a :55.3 first half. The six-year-old Sunshine Beach gelding opened up two lengths leading the seven-horse field down the backstretch to three-quarters in 1:24 and held clear through the lane over runner-up Itll Be Fine (Dave Hudon) with Mach Steady (John Abbott) besting Pureform Mr Toffee (Allan Molloy) in a show photo.

Sunshine Boy, who won the last Fraser Preferred on Dec. 15, returned $3.90 to his backers at the betting windows. He is now a career winner of 24 races and more than a quarter of a million dollars.

The victory completed a training triple on the seven-race card for Marino, who also sent out back-to-back winners in races two and three. Shales Storm ($9.10) prevailed first in a nose decision with John Abbott in the bike then stablemate Major Winker ($5.70) made a winner's circle appearance with Knight aboard.

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

(Standardbred Canada)