Trainer Justin Currie completed a sweep of the Abbetross A Claiming Series for $4,500 claiming pacers thanks to a wire-to-wire performance by his pupil Desperate Measures in the $14,800 final on Saturday at Fraser Downs
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Sent postward as the even-money favourite after winning both of his opening divisions, Desperate Measures took control from Post 5 with Jim Marino in the bike. The bay gelding turned back his former stablemate Prime Time Bliss, who was claimed by Don Monkman Jr. after winning his second leg split, as he carved out fractions of :27.3, :57.4 and 1:26.3.
Desperate Measures kicked away from the field in the stretch with a :28.3 final frame, opening up a six-length lead before crossing the wire. The winning time was 1:55.2 over a track rated "good" and two seconds off. Bad Dude (Ed Hensley) was the runner-up and Red Star Popeye (David McKellar) rounded out the top three.
The son of Electric Yankee-Deal Offthe Bottom is now three-for-three in 2011 with $11,150 earned. He has won seven of his last starts for owner Chris Currie of Langley, B.C. Over the course of his career, the eight-year-old has won 36 times earning $293,812.
To view Saturday's results, click here.