McKellar Scores 'Miss Onager' Win
After pulling off a sweep of the opening leg of the Abbetross A Claiming Series on Friday night at Fraser Downs, trainer-driver David McKellar picked up another series opener score in the Miss Onager on Sunday afternoon.
McKellar guided Red Star Brooklyn to a 1:59 triumph over the sloppy track in a division of the Miss Onager for $4,500 claiming mares.
After sitting fourth through opening panels of :27.4 and :58.3, Red Star Brooklyn rushed to command en route to the 1:28 third quarter mark and cruised home to win by one and a quarter lengths over the popular pacesetter Chica Caliente (Ed Hensley). Country Hideaway (John Hudon) finished third.
Like McKellar's Friday winners, the seven-year-old Island Fantasy mare, owned by Darl Baron of Langley, B.C., was claimed. David Woolley claimed Red Star Brooklyn for a price of $5,625.
Red Star Brooklyn paid $6 to win as the 2-1 second choice in the field scratched down to five.
The other opening leg division went to the front-stepping Millbanks Piper and driver Brad Watt in 1:59.4 while McKellar's popular first over challenger, Promise Me Pez, settled for third.
Watt hustled the six-year-old Usher Hanover mare off the gate from post one and carved out fractions of :28.2, :59.2, and 1:29.1 with Promise Me Pez rolling up to challenge. But Millbanks Piper kicked away down the lane to win by four and a quarter lengths. Fortunate Design (Keith Clark) came on for second.
Millbanks Piper was owned and trained by Robert Galarneau, Surrey, B.C. before being claimed for $5,625 by Walter Slopianka. Promise Me Pez was also claimed for $5,625 by Dan Ingram.
Millbanks Piper $10.70 paid to win as the 4-1 second choice in the five-horse field.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Fraser Downs.