Sterling Cooper and trainer/driver Bill Davis matched the fastest mile in Fraser Downs history with a romping 10-1/4 length victory in the $10,500 Open Pace on Sunday afternoon.
Davis and Jeffrey Elchuk's seven-year-old Camluck gelding equalled Lil Dude Starrbuck's all-age track record of 1:50.4, originally established in September 2009, over the track rated "good" with a one second variant.
Davis tipped Sterling Cooper to the outside from third as Cowboy Caper (Travis Bowman) cleared Gable Blue Chip (J.F. Gagne) in front of the grandstand after a :26.2 first quarter battle. The 4-5 favourite then took over command at the half in :54.3 and began to open up seven lengths down the backstretch, hitting three-quarters in 1:22. Sterling Cooper continued to extend his leading margin into the double digits as he raced home for the 1:50.4 triumph. Blue Star Admiral (John Chappell) and longshot Tendtowin (John Abbott) were the best of the rest, finishing back in second and third, respectively.
Sterling Cooper paid $3.60 to win and shaved one second and two-fifths off his lifetime mark.
Claimed for $15,000 last Dec. 28 by Davis and Elchuk, Sterling Cooper has since earned two wins and a fourth-place finish in Open company with the addition of Lasix. The win was the pacer's 23rd in 74 career starts and lifted his earnings to nearly $140,000.
Davis completed a training and driving triple on the 10-dash card as he also had back-to-back victories earlier with nine-year-old geldings Garden Gate Ll ($4), who took a new mark of 1:52.3, and Haroun Hanover ($6.30), who reached the 50-win milestone with a 1:53.1 effort.
Just prior to the afternoon's featured eighth race, a new Powder Puff Derby champion was crowned as Fraser Downs hosted its annual all-female, non-wagering race for charity. The race was part of the afternoon's Harness The Hope event and the ladies raised $1,204 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
Competing in jog carts, Sandra Roberts and her own pacer Mmmmmh prevailed in a three-way photo finish over the Alina MacLeod-driven Cenalta Wizard and AD Scootin Ivy with Cherie Paskaruk aboard. The time of the mile was 2:04.2.
Roberts, who was introduced to standardbreds 14 years ago, has been training for four years.
Other participants in the race included Margaret White (Remain Silent), Heather Sjostrom (Soul Diva) and Ashley Ederer (Alverna). Defending three-time champion Emily Leak did not compete in this year's event.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Fraser Downs.