Veteran Pacers Star In Harvest Elims
Nine-year-old Open pacers Cash Account and Armbro Dublin won their respective $10,000 Harvest Stake eliminations early Friday night over a 'good' Fraser Downs track.
With meet leading driver Jim Marino aboard, favourite Cash Account converted off a perfect pocket trip to win the opener in 1:54.3.
Lil Dude Starrbuck (Scott Knight), the oldest pacer in the field at age 11, cleared to command over the 6-5 bettors' choice at the :27.1 first quarter mark and fronted the field of six through middle splits of :55.4 and 1:25.
As the open pacers turned for home, Marino sent Cash Account up the passing lane and he scooted home to win by one and three-quarter lengths. Lil Dude Starrbuck settled for second with first over Camblazer (Dave Hudon) finishing third. Living It Up (Rod Therres) was fourth.
Cash Account paid $4.40 to win for the third consecutive time.
The son of D M Dilinger, who has won 26 races lifetime while banking $276,484 in purses, is trained and owned by Heather Sifert
Stepping up into stakes company despite finishing near the back of the pack in his four prior starts since arriving at Fraser, Armbro Dublin rallied home from second over to upset the next elimination in 1:55 flat for trainer-driver Blake Piwniuk.
Leaving from post four, Armbro Dublin settled away fourth while Gramrun Jake (Tim Brown) set up shop on the front end from the inside. Gramrun Jake carved out fractions of :27.1, :56.4 and 1:25.3 while Lizard King (John Hudon) applied first over pressure. Meanwhile, Armbro Dublin was spotted second with favourite Killean Cut Kid (David McKellar) on his back.
Around the final turn, Piwniuk sent his charge three-wide and swept by the leaders down the stretch to notch win number 59 in his career. Lizard King finished a half-length behind in second while Killean Cut Kid and Sterling Cooper (Dave Hudon) finished over two lengths back in third and fourth, respectively.
Armbro Dublin paid $29.90 for the 13-1 upset.
Piwniuk also co-owns the Cambest gelding, who boasts a lifetime bankroll of more than $550,000, with Jerry Hagenaars of Hafford, Sask.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs.