Trainer Mark Anderson swept the second leg of the Betty Millbank Breeders Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies with the debuting Scardy Cat and repeat winner Marilyn on Friday night (October 13) at Fraser Downs.
Scardy Cat ($4.20) followed in fourth-place through opening panels of :29.3 and :59.4 in the first $15,000 division before moving to the lead and drawing off by more than four lengths after three-quarters in 1:28.2. The homebred Sportswriter-Cats Meow filly won at first asking in 1:57.4 with Paul Davies aboard for the J J J Stables of Prince George, B.C. Early leaders Nice Aint My Color and Kisthisgirlgoodbye finished second and third, respectively.
Driven by Kevin Anderson, undefeated Marilyn ($2.90) had a similar trip in the second split, sitting fourth through first-half fractions of :31 and 1:01.2 before making her move. She advanced first-over through three-quarters in 1:30.4 and left her rivals in the dust as she paced away to win by nine lengths in 1:59.1. Custard Lite was the best of the rest and Dali Double rounded out the top three finish order. A daughter of Custard The Dragon out of Lady Luvs Diamonds, Marilyn is owned by her trainer.
Davies also doubled up in Friday's stakes action, guiding Mach Steady ($9.10) to victory in the $20,000 second leg of the Robert Murphy Breeders Stakes for three-year-old colts. The duo followed in third through panels of :28.1, :59.1 and 1:28.4 before collaring pacesetting Millbanks Bart at the wire in 1:57.1 with Beer O Clock a half-length back in third off a pocket trip. The homebred gelding by Mach Three out of Forever Steady, who won a pair of Robert Millbank divisions last year, earned his first sophomore victory for trainer Randy Rutledge and co-owner Jennifer Dodsworth of Aldergrove, B.C.
In other action, there was mishap in the final turn of the eighth race when Outlaw Goodnready (Rod Therres) broke stride and caused interference to four horses, including Coin Vault (Jim Burke) and Whatkindofchance (David Hudon). Burke and Hudon were unseated during the incident, but avoided serious injury and were both back in the bike in the following race (which Burke won). Both horses were corralled by the outrider.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs.