Lilsharkshooter, Lil Dude Starrbuck and Stiletto Hall have all shared the spotlight as winners of the elimination legs of the 2009 Clash of the Pacific. Now it’s down to the $75,000 final tomorrow with a nine-horse field in the first major stakes race of the season at Fraser Downs.
With his finishing time of 1:51.1 in the first leg of the elimination rounds, Lil Dude Starrbuck has been established as the morning line 6-5 favourite along with stablemate Lilsharkshooter.
Lilsharkshooter won his division in 1:53, while Stiletto Hall’s winning time in the second leg was 1:52.4.
“To put things into perspective,” said Fraser Downs' director of racing, Jackson Wittup, “there were 10 horses in the field of that second leg and the horse that finished last (Artistically) was only three and a half lengths behind the winner (Stiletto Hall).”
Longtime driver/trainer Scott Knight, who also serves as president of the British Columbia Standardbred Association (BCSA), will be looking for a Clash of the Pacific driving repeat. He drove Round Table Review to victory last year and will be handling the lines behind Lil Dude Starrbuck on Friday.
Knight has drawn the trailing Post 9, which means he will have his work cut out for him to get to the front end. Grand Bend Turbo, winner of the 2007 Clash of the Pacific, is back with trainer/driver Dave Hudon and is listed as the second morning line choice at 4-1.
Fraser Downs' initial Thursday night card of the season will head postward at 6:00 p.m. with racing continuing Friday and Saturday nights.
Click here to view Fraser Downs' Friday harness racing entries.
(With files from Fraser Downs)