Marino Sweeps Top Spots In Open
Stablemates Premium Stock and Comes Home First topped the Open pacers at Fraser Downs on March 25, finishing first and second in the $10,500 Good Friday feature for trainer Jim Marino.
Favourite Sterling Cooper led the six-horse field through fractions of :26.3, :56 and 1:24 before giving way to first over attacker Premium Stock, who advanced from fourth during the third panel. Comes Home First then launched wide from third over at the top of the stretch and closed for second-place, finishing two and three-quarter lengths behind his barn buddy, whose winning time equalled his career mark of 1:52.3. Gotta Have Nukes came through inside off a pocket trip to edge out Sterling Cooper in a photo for show.
A first-time winner this year, Premium Stock pulled off a minor 7-1 upset and returned $17.10 to his backers at the betting windows. Brandon Campbell drove Premium Stock while Marino was aboard Comes Home First.
Premium Stock is owned by Barbara Landers of Surrey, B.C. and Cameron Gardner of Cloverdale, B.C. The win was the Blissfull Hall gelding's first in six starts as a five-year-old and his 11th lifetime.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs.