Marino Takes 2YO Filly Breeders Stakes
Driver Jim Marino swept both $7,500 divisions of the Betty Millbank Breeders Stakes for two-year-old fillies on Friday night at Fraser Downs with his popular trainee Judys Lass and the upsetting Ty O'Neill-conditioned Not Listed.
Marino used the same pocket-sitting tactics to win both divisions and sweep the early Daily Double, which paid $43.10.
Judys Lass ($2.70) followed Hurts So Bad and J.F. Gagne through fractions of :28.2, :59.2, and 1:29.4 in the first division before kicking home in :29.3 to prevail in 1:59.3 by three-quarters of a length. Diamonds Afire and John Abbott finished third.
Not Listed ($18.60) sat behind West Coast Mist and John Hudon through fractions of 28.3, 1:01.4, and 1:31.3 before springing into action and taking over command for the 2:01.1 victory (final frame in :29.1). West Coast Mist finished one length behind with broken equipment while Millbanks April and Abbott rounded out the top three finishers.
Both fillies were making their career debuts for their connections. Judys Lass (Real Desire-Judy Is a Fox) is owned by Marino and Herbert Boggs of Duncan, B.C. while Not Listed (Power Of Art-One Of Kind) is owned and bred by the J J J Stables of Aldergrove, B.C.
In other action, Millbanks Ariel and big sister Millbanks Piper, bred by Betty Millbanks and Pauline Zahara, earned back-to-back victories later on the card. Four-year-old 'Ariel' won the 10th race by four and a half lengths in a career-best 1:53.2 with David Hudon aboard for trainer-owner Darren Lupul of Sherwood Park, Alta. while five-year-old 'Piper' won the 11th by a neck in 1:56.4 for driver Brad Watt and local trainer-owner Robert Galarneau. Both mares are by Usher Hanover out of Millbanks Award.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs.