Rod Therres’ Royal Morn made his 2009 debut a triumphant one on Saturday at Fraser Downs. The four-year-old son of Usher Hanover was the wire-to-wire winner in the featured $15,000 Open Pace

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With Therres in tow, last year’s Robert Murphy Breeders Stake winner used his usual tactics to score in 1:55.2. The fan favourite led the way through fractions of :27.3, :58 and 1:26.1 before coasting to the wire with a two and a quarter-length lead on the field.

Father Knows Best (Jim Marino) was the runner-up with pocket-sitter Stormin Rustler (David McKellar) rounding out the top three.

Royal Morn’s winning effort pushed his bankroll over the $200,000 mark. In 26 starts, the brown gelding has compiled 13 wins, five seconds and three thirds for Therres and his partner Charles Macfarlane of Victoria, B.C.

To view Saturday's results, click here.