Despite an early speed duel over the sloppy track, Big N Bad held on to win the $25,000 Mr Vancouver Stake by three-quarters of a length for horseman Bill Davis on Sunday afternoon at Fraser Downs.

Leaving from post six, Big N Bad worked past early leaver Sea Deuce (John Abbott) through a speedy :26.3 opener and never looked back. He took a second quarter breather to the half in :57.2 and rolled by three-quarters in 1:26.1 en route to the 1:56 triumph. Jolt Of Whiskey (Steven Hudon) closed from third up the passing lane to finish second while Sea Deuce held off a from-last D On Sanders (David McKellar) for third.

An Open Pace winner in his last start on Feb. 2, Big N Bad paid $2.70 to win as the 1-5 favourite. He now has three wins, one second and one third in five starts this year.

Davis trains and drives the four-year-old Badlands Hanover gelding for the J J J Stables of Aldergrove, B.C.

The victory was his 11th lifetime and catapulted his earnings over the $100,000 mark.

Earlier on the card, last year's Mr Vancouver runner-up Gotta Have Nukes edged out Cantbeatacheetah by a head to post a 16-1 upset in the $10,500 Open Pace. The five-year-old Kents On Nuke gelding prevailed in 1:56.2 for trainer/driver Rick White, who shares ownership with June Kauffman.

Post six starter Gotta Have Nukes watched a three-horse duel for the early lead as he took back to fifth with only breaker Crown Isle (Michael Munoz) beaten off the gate. Favourite Playbook (Keith Clark) was the widest leaver and worked his way to the lead through a :27-second opening quarter.

After touching down on the front end, Playbook led his rivals through middle splits of :57.4 and 1:26.3 with Gotta Have Nukes making his move near the third quarter mark.

Around the final turn, Gotta Have Nukes rallied wide around the pocket-pulling Bettor In The Bank (Don Monkman Jr.) and eventually wore down the tiring leader in the stretch with Cantbeatacheetah (Jim Marino) coming on for second and I Hear Voices (Bill Davis) closing up the passing lane for third.

Sent postward as the second longest shot on the board, Gotta Have Nukes returned $35.20 to his backers for a $2 win ticket.

The victory was Gotta Have Nukes' second in five starts this year.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Fraser Downs.