Given the dominance he displayed in his first-round Robert Millbank Memorial event on Wednesday (Oct. 14) at Fraser Downs, Kootenay Santanna ($2.40) has the potential to develop into a force to reckon with in western Canada.
The Bob Chadwick homebred brushed powerfully to claim control of the pace before the half-mile pole and strode clear to a 1:55.2 victory, far and away the fastest of the 11 rookie pacing colts and geldings to contest two $10,000 first-round divisions of the event.
Allan Molloy was patient early with the Santanna Blue Chip gelding, dropping in fifth while Ynotthishos (Tony Kerwood) duelled clear of Sam The Cat (Brandon Campbell) at the end of a :28.1 first quarter. Upon straightening for the bell, Kootenay Santanna brushed aggressively to the fore and cleared a two-length lead through a :57.1 half. From that point, it was 'game over.' Kootenay Santanna was uncontested up the backstretch, turning the pace up to three-quarters in 1:26 before drawing clear by 5-1/4 lengths to cap his second win in as many lifetime starts. Loaded Dragon (Rod Therres) rallied for second over a mildly resurgent Sam The Cat.
Kyle Chadwick trains Kootenay Santanna.
Call Your Dragon ($5.40) won the other division, saving ground behind slow fractions of :29, :59.3 and 1:30 set by 6-5 favourite Rapido Dom (Dave Hudon) and finding room off the home turn to lift out of third and win by a widening length in 1:59.1 while in line to Brandon Campbell. Rapido Dom held second; Silver Sea (John Abbott) finished third after riding the pocket throughout.
Call Your Dragon broke maiden in the fourth start of his career. Trainer Jim Marino co-owns the son of Custard The Dragon with the J J J Stables.
The first round of the Betty Millbank Memorial for two-year-old pacing fillies yielded a jaw-dropping display of domination as well: Lucy Raymond's Da Magic Coco ($2.10) extended her career record to a perfect three-for-three with a 1:55.3 drubbing of her five rivals in her $10,000 division.
Serge Masse sent the daughter of Custard The Dragon to a clear lead from the pole, and she was never in doubt, posting fractions of :28, :57.4 and 1:26 before widening steadily through the far turn and reporting home 13-1/4 lengths clear of Inaboysdream (Campbell), who passed a tiring Pretty Please for second on the far turn and protected the runner-up spot from the mildly gaining Sea Breezes (Abbott).
Heather Davies trains Da Magic Coco.
The second Betty Millbank split saw If Only Id Known ($2.40) and Brandon Campbell ride a clear pocket behind Crush Me (Scott Knight) before edging away in the stretch to win by two lengths in 1:57.1. L Ds Contessa (John Vukelich) stalked evenly for third.
If Only Id Known, a daughter of Shadow Play, is a perfect two-for-two for trainer Jim Marino, who shares ownership with the J J J Stables.
Campbell, who teamed up with Marino for a stakes double, led all drivers with five wins on the 13-race card. Marino's training hat trick was one-upped by Kelly Hoerdt, whose horses visited the winner's enclosure on four occasions on the program.
To view Wednesday's complete results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Fraser Downs.