Trainer Kelly Hoerdt nearly pulled off a sweep of the top spots in the $7,500 Cloverdale Pace eliminations on Friday night (January 26) at Fraser Downs, but the Randy Rutledge-trained four-year-old Mach Steady got up to score a mild upset.
Hoerdt trainees American Dreamer and Town Speaker did finish 1-2 in the first elimination for four-year-old pacers, but Mach Steady defeated their barn buddies, Three More Smiles and Wabash Cannonball, in the second split.
With Hoerdt in the sulky, even-money favourite American Dreamer drove on to take the lead through a contested :28.2 opening quarter and proceeded to carve out panels of :57.3 and 1:26.3 en route to victory in 1:56.2 over the 'good' track for owner Freeman Miller Jr. of Goshen, Indiana. Stablemate Town Speaker, driven by Jim Burke, closed off cover to snag second-place honours ahead of pocket-pursuer Veneno.
Hoerdt then sent 1-2 favourite Three More Smiles to the lead over 5-1 shot Mach Steady by the opening quarter in :28.3 and maintained a loose lead through a half in :59.3 with Wabash Cannonball and Burke tracking in third. They passed three-quarters in 1:28.3 and turned down the homestretch, where Mach Steady launched his attack and prevailed by a half-length in 1:58.1. Rutledge owns and bred the Mach Three gelding with Jennifer Dodsworth of Aldergrove, B.C.
The $30,000 final of the Cloverdale Pace will be contested on Friday, Feb. 9 at Fraser Downs
The weekly $12,000 Open Pace was won by Lisplaced, who held off the winner of two weeks ago, Illwinifican, by a neck in 1:55.4 for trainer/driver Rod Therres and local owner Carol Ann Leeson. Sabine Pass finished just a half-length back in third.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs.