A competitive field of 10 open pacers produced a thrilling finish in the $10,000 second leg of the Clash Of The Pacific Friday night at Fraser Downs
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Leaving from the outside Post 8, Just Plug It In (Jim Marino) battled with Storyeum (Gord Abbott) for the lead in a sizzling :26.2 opening quarter before settling on top. Once in control, Just Plug It In directed the field through panels of :55.3. and 1:23.1 while Reserve Forces (James Burke) advanced first-over from fourth with round one winner Lilsharkshooter (Scott Knight) and Stiletto Hall and Don Monkman, Jr. following his cover.
Heading into the stretch, Reserve Forces began to close in on the leader, but the backfield was beginning to come alive. Using a :28.4 final quarter, Stiletto Hall came flying wide from seventh to prevail by three-quarters of a length in a blanket finish. The time of the mile was 1:52.4.
Just Plug It In finished second over Reserve Forces, leaving fourth-place for Storyeum and fifth for Lilsharkshooter.
Serge Masse trains the seven-year-old Blissfull Hall-Say Youll Love Me gelding, who was third in the opening leg, for the Don M JR Stables and Don Byrne Stables 2008 Inc. of Edmonton, Alta. With the win, Stiletto Hall improved his seasonal record to 14-3-2 in 25 starts and lifted his earnings to $85,760. The 30-time career winner had banked $259,151 to date.
The top nine money earners from the first two legs will return next Friday, October 16 to compete in the $75,000 Clash Of The Pacific final.
Earlier on the card, Race 3 was declared a No Contest after two-year-old pacer Hezadilly broke stride and fell during the opening quarter from fifth place. No other horses were affected in the incident, but the field was dispersed when passing the fallen horse for the second time. Both Hezadilly and driver Scott Knight were able to walk off the track and appeared to be okay. Knight, who drove Lilsharkshooter in the Clash Of The Pacific division, did complete his remaining drives.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click here.