Breeders Stakes Contested At Fraser

Fans enjoyed an action-packed card on Saturday night at Fraser Downs, which included the second leg of the Robert and Mary Murphy Breeders Stakes for three-year-olds, the Fillies & Mares Open Pace and the first leg of the Spartacus Claiming Series.

Fresh off a win in last week's first leg, Happy Larry romped to a five-length victory in the first $16,658 Robery Murphy Breeders division in rein to trainer Bill Davis.

The son of Real Artist cleared the lead after the :28.4 first quarter and carved out the following panels of :58 and 1:26.4 before pulling away by over five lengths for the win 1:56.

Gardengate Fantasy (Gord Abbott) finished second and Bare Scat (James Jungquist) was third.

The bay scored his sixth lifetime win and lifted his earnings to $63,071 for owner Larry Schmidt of Abbotsford, B.C.

Royal Morn dominated the second Robert Murphy division, pacing to victory in wire-to-wire fashion for driver, trainer and co-owner Rod Therres.

The son of Usher Hanover set the tempo with panels of :28.2, :57.4 and 1:27 before sprinting home in 1:55 for the win by almost four lengths.

Red Star Tomahawk (Brent Beelby) was the runner-up with Blessthebrokenroad (Darren Howald) finishing third.

Royal Morn picked up his ninth career win and increased his earnings to $121,242.

Fiddles Missile broke his maiden in the final Robert Murphy split with John Hudon in the bike.

The bay colt captured the lead after a :29 opening panel posted by Lilkent (David Hudon). Fiddles Missile maintained a two-length lead on the field through fractions of :59.1 and 1:27.4 en route to victory lane in 1:58.

Red Star Wildcard (Brent Beelby) finished almost two lengths back in second and Lilkent was third.

John Hudon trains and co-owns the son of Chuckleberry, who has earned $22,889 in his career.

In the first $21,700 Mary Murphy Breeders Stake, Meter Maid and driver James Burke worked out a winning trip for the second consecutive week.

After Smoke A Few (Gord Abbott) made a miscue before the first quarter mark in :28, Silkys Got Promise (Darren Howald) took command of the field as Meter Maid sat in second.

Nazko Shelley (David Hudon) found the front before the half in :59.4, but Red Star Diamond (Brent Beelby) reached the third quarter mark on top in 1:29. Meanwhile, Meter Maid was shuffled back to fifth, but the daughter of Usher Hanover, who was overlooked at 15-1, blasted by the field on the far outside in deep stretch for the win in 1:59.

Nazko Shelley was second and Samanthas Cam (Rick White) finished third.

The Heather Burke trainee notched her seventh lifetime win bringing her total earnings to $62,613 for owner Cindy Postnikoff of Surrey, B.C.

In the final Mary Murphy division, Red Star Hottie made her fourth consecutive trip to the winner's circle in rein to trainer Brent Beelby.

Red Star Hottie surged to the lead after an opening panel of :29 was posted by Pureform Bunny (Bill Davis). The fan favourite posted fractions of :58.3 and 1:27.4 en route to victory in 1:57.1.

Miss Prom (James Burke) finished two and a half lengths back in second and Pureform Bunny was third.

The As Promised miss took her ninth lifetime win and surpassed the $100,000 mark in career earnings for owner Robert Murphy of Surrey, B.C.

In the $17,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace, Adorable Killean rallied from off the pace to win in 1:56 as the pacesetter, Follow Your Rosa (Bill Davis) faded to fourth.

Sitting sixth on the outside for most of the mile, Adorable Killean used a :29 final quarter kick to pull ahead of the pack by almost four lengths for the upset at odds of 9-1 on a sloppy surface.

Longshots Judgesacenthehole (Jim Marino) and Lil Deuce Coup (Scott Knight) came on for second and third.

The four-year-old Astreos mare, who is trained and driven by David Hudon for owners Kelly Hudon of Surrey, Marsha Holmes and Nigel Holmes of Langley, B.C, scored her ninth lifetime win and lifted her bankroll past the $100,000 mark.

The Surrey, B.C. oval also hosted a pair of $7,000 Spartacus Claiming Series events with Witty Scholar prevailing in 1:56.3 for trainer/driver Bill Davis and Red Star Governor (Jim Marino) winning in 1:55.4 for trainer Randy Rutledge.

Click here for Saturday's results.

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