Speed Rules In Fraser Features
Friday could have easily been regarded as ‘Ladies Night’ at Fraser Downs thanks to a set of eliminations for a four-year-old mares Open Stake and the weekly edition of the Fillies And Mares Open Pace.
Tahiti Seelster took home bragging rights – and the lion’s share of the $7,500 purse – in the first elimination of the four-year-old mares Open Stake.
John Abbott rolled the daughter of Up The Credit-Titania Seelster through fractions of :27.3, :58 and 1:26.4 before using a final quarter clocked in :30.1 to seal the deal by 1-1/4 lengths over Clintons Memory in 1:57. Cenalta Artistry rounded out the top three finishers in the five-horse affair.
Sent off as the 1-2 favourite, Tahiti Seelster is now 4-for-4 to kick off her 2017 campaign for co-owner/trainer Nelson Craig and partner Richard Craig. The eight-time winner has banked more than $40,000 to date.
Mysterious Lady also used a ‘come and get me’ approach to win her elimination in 1:58.1 for trainer/driver Dennis Johnston.
The daughter of Mystery Chase-Lady Motion fired to the top from the pole position and was never headed through intervals of :30.4, 1:01 and 1:29.3. She kicked home in :28.3 to win by a length over No Guarantees. Race favourite Somewhere A Place had to settle for third prize.
Johnston co-owns the distaffer with Ray Thomson, and together they’ve watched her rack up an 8-for-15 record in addition to earnings in excess of $90,000 to date.
Mach Away also found her way to victory lane on the Friday evening card thanks to her gate-to-wire score in the $11,000 Fillies And Mares Open.
Mike Hennessy hustled the seven-year-old daughter of Mach Three-Digga Digga to the front and she kept on rolling through panels of :28.1, :57 and 1:26.1 before using a :29.4 final frame to win by 2-1/2 lengths over Part Time Lady in 1:56. Taking home the show dough in the five-horse affair was Goldies Mach.
Rod Hennessy trains the distaffer, who was sent off as the 6-5 favourite, for owner Bryan Brook of Leduc, AB. The win was the 29th lifetime tally for the career winner of close to $150,000.
To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results – Fraser Downs.