Itll Be Fine defeated the favourites to earn his second Preferred victory of the Fraser Downs fall meet in this week's $10,000 top class on Friday, Oct. 4.

When the starting car sped away, the field of five Preferred pacers lined up in post position order with Itll Be Fine and driver David Hudon tracking last week's winner, Sunshine Boy (Scott Knight), in the pocket through fractions of :27.3, :57 and 1:24.2. With the meet's first Preferred winner, Whiplash Smile (Rod Therres), advancing first-over down the backstretch, Itll Be Fine took the inside route when they turned for home and drew clear in the passing lane to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:52.2, equalling his winning time two starts ago in the Preferred. The rest of the field spread across the track with 7-5 second choice Sunshine Boy holding second over 6-5 favourite Whiplash Smile to pick up the minor spoils.

Itll Be Fine, who pulled off a 27-1 upset in the Preferred on Sept. 20 and finished third by a length last week, was let go at odds of 7-1 this time out and returned $16.10 for the win. 

Trainer Rick Lancaster and Leslie Godlien co-own the Hes Watching-Modern Hanover gelding, who has put together a record reading 6-8-3 from 28 starts during his five-year-old campaign. A career winner of 21 races, Itll Be Fine has earned $207,988 in purses.

In addition to winning the Friday feature, Hudon also teamed up with Lancaster for a win with Rum N Raisins making his Fraser return and he made another trip to the winner's circle with his own trainee Sunset Rider.

Live harness racing continues at Fraser Downs next Thursday and Friday, with post time at 7 p.m.

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

(Standardbred Canada)