Pureform Gangster and driver Chris Linford kicked off the 2016 harness racing season with a 13-1 upset winning Canada's first race on New Year's Day at Fraser Downs.
After going winless in 16 prior starts, the New Year marked a change in Pureform Gangster's luck as the four-year-old Valet Victory gelding scored a maiden-breaking victory in 2:01.4 for trainer Travis Tracey and owner/breeder Calvin Nyuli of Abbotsford, B.C.
A trailing tier starter in the field of nine, Pureform Gangster got away mid-pack in the $3,600 maiden claiming race while 4-5 favourite Hook Line N Minker worked to the lead out wide around the first turn. Pureform Gangster gained ground along the pylons as the outer flow developed and he moved up into second-place and then tipped out at the top of the stretch to track down Hook Line N Minker. Epic Era came on for second and J Thunder finished third while Hook Line N Minker faded to fourth with broken equipment.
Later on the New Year's Day program, Im Tu Die For was victorious in the afternoon's featured $10,500 Fillies & Mares Open Pace, extending her win streak to four in a row for trainer/driver John Chappell.
Chappell worked out a pocket trip aboard the 4-5 favourite, tracking the leaving insider Sheezgotdawoogies through opening panels of :27.4 and :58.2. Im Tu Die For quickly overtook Sheezgotdawoogies entering the backstretch then drew off as they raced past three-quarters in 1:26 to win by nearly eight lengths in 1:54.4, a career-best clocking for the six-year-old mare, despite sustaining broken equipment. Drawing Dead followed in third-place throughout the mile.
The daughter of Allamerican Cobalt, who has earned 15 wins from 78 career starts and $131,395 in purses, is owned by Ross Sharp of Campbell River, B.C.
The Open victory completed a training-driving double on the 10-race card for Chappell. Driver Jim Marino was also a repeat winner on the Friday program.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs.