Sent postward as the favourite in the $50,000 British Columbia Sires Stakes Final for two-year-old pacing colts, Kootenay Harper didn't disappoint his backers as he wired the field in Fraser Downs' Saturday opener to win by three lengths.
Fraser Downs' leading reinsman Jim Marino handled the driving duties for trainer Kyle Chadwick and local owner Robert Chadwick and sent the homebred Allamerican Cobalt-Creative Girl colt to the lead from post two. Kootenay Harper fronted the field of five through fractions of :29.3, 1:01 and 1:31.3 en route to the 2:00.1 triumph. Starrbucks Lildude (Scott Knight) came on for second despite drifting out in the stretch while Koko Taylor (Bill Davis) finished third.
The victory was a maiden-breaking one for Kootenay Harper, who entered the BCSS Final three prior top-three finishes. His career earnings soared to $28,411.
The 3-5 favourite paid $3.20 to win.
Marino swept the first five races on the Saturday card with his next aboard Prairie Illusion ($8.80) in the $9,500 Fillies & Mares Open Pace for owner/trainer William Young of Langley, B.C. After sitting fourth for most of the mile, the four-year-old Mach Three-Twin B Magical mare drew off to win in 1:53.1 by nearly six lengths over a pair of Bill Davis trainees. Pocket-sitter Just Fiction (John Chappell) edged out the popular pacesetter Call Me Up (Bill Davis) for second.
Marino's other wins were with his own trainee Outlawishfulthinkn ($3.80), upsetter Tahuya Artic Cam ($93.80) for Erik Neyhart, and Anjelles Aura ($6.50) for Randy Rutledge.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Fraser Downs.