After opening the Fraser Downs meet with a victory in the $10,000 Preferred Pace last month, Whiplash Smile made it back to the winner's circle on Friday night as the persistent pacesetter rebuffed the early and late challenges of recent winner Itll Be Fine. 

With Serge Masse taking the reins for trainer Rod Therres this week, Whiplash Smile crossed to command over his four foes in a :26.3 opener before stealing a second quarter breather to the half in :56.4 and cruising to three-quarters in 1:25.3 with a two-length lead as the backfield moved underway. After flashing early gate speed, Itll Be Fine (David Hudon), the slight favourite after winning a week ago, took aim under urging in the stretch but Whiplash Smile held the pocket-pursuer at bay to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:53 flat. Itll Be Fine's stablemate Rum N Raisins (John Abbott) edged out Sunshine Boy (Scott Knight) in a show photo nearly three lengths behind.

At 8-5 odds, Whiplash Smile paid $5.50 to win. The son of Mystician and Westart Love has won two of his five Preferred starts at the Fraser meet since being acquired by Therres and partner KFC Farms in late August. A career winner of 22 races, the seven-year-old pacer has earned six of his wins this year from 18 starts.

In other action, trainer Rebecca Kanak won three races on a single program for the first time in her career. The 25-year-old Saskatchewan horsewoman won back-to-back races mid-card when five-year-old pacer Light My Shadow ($3.70) took a new lifetime mark of 1:52.4 with Allan Molloy driving and seven-year-old pacer West Coast Beach ($6.30) scored in 1:51.3 with Therres in the sulky. In the 10th race finale, sophomore pacer Farmers Beach ($2.80) delivered a career-best performance with a 1:54.3 win in rein to Kelly Hoerdt. Kanak, who celebrated her first career win just 11 months ago, now has 19 training triumphs from 90 starts and just shy of $100,000 in earnings.

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

(Standardbred Canada)