There was plenty of power from Jim Marino’s barn on display during Thursday’s 12-race card at Fraser Downs, and as a result his outfit managed to produce a four-win performance.
Marino trainees Strateontilmorning and Major Custard – both driven by Brandon Campbell – won their respective $15,000 divisions of the Robert Millbank Memorial Breeders Stake for two-year-old colt and gelding pacers.
Strateontilmorning turned a two-hold trip into a 2:00.1 triumph in his $15,000 division to get the ball rolling for Marino and Campbell. The son of The Panderosa-The Pan Floridian popped out late to haul down 6-5 favourite Sporty Dragon after that foe supplied fractions of :29.3, 1:01.1 and 1:31.2. Strateontilmorning kicked home in :28.3 to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 2:00.1. Sporty Dragon was second, with All This taking home third prize.
Marino shares ownership on the youngster with J J J Stables of Prince George, BC. It was the second win from four attempts for the career winner of $13,400.
The same connections came right back to take the second division of the Robert Millbank Memorial Breeders Stake with Major Custard in 1:56.3.
The son of Custard The Dragon-Chemistry Major rolled the field through fractions of :28.2, :58 and 1:27.4 before using a :28.4 closing quarter to win by 7-1/2 lengths over Outlaw C My Shadow. Taking home the show dough was Wits Beach.
Sent off as the 4-5 choice, Major Custard improved his rookie record to 2-2-0 from four starts while lifetime earnings increased to $17,900.
Campbell, who finished the card with five wins, also teamed up with Marino to take Race 9 with Sell A Bit N (29.1) followed by a triumph with G Ts Jamie (1:55.3). He also had a catch-driving victory behind Risque Miss (1:59.3).
A set of $15,000 divisions of the Mary Murphy Breeders Stake also went postward for three-year-old pacing fillies, with the first split going to Hottieonthehorizon for driver Kelly Hoerdt and trainer Rick Lancaster.
The daughter of Vertical Horizon-As Hot As Promised had the field lined up behind her through fractions of :28.1, :58.4 and 1:27.2 before scooting home in :28.4 to win by three-quarters of the length over Ocean Wind in 1:56.1. Mrs Suhwiggins was third.
Leslie Godlien shares ownership on the sophomore with Hoerdt and Lancaster, and collectively they’ve watched her win for the second time in her career from just four lifetime starts. She’s quickly closing in on $18,000 in earnings.
Tough It Out took the other division in 1:57.2 for trainer/driver John Chappell. He quarter pole-moved her to the lead, and once she claimed the top spot she never relinquished it. She blazed through middle panels of :58.1 and 1:28 before rocketing home in :29.2 to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Out Of Left Field, with Crystal Dragon another quarter of a length behind that foe.
Evert Vandenborn of Langley, BC owns the career winner of $65,475. The victory improved this year’s box score to 3-3-0 from seven starts while her overall boxscore features an overall record of 4-5-3 from 15 assignments.
It should be noted that Rick Lancaster tacked on another pair of winners including Rock Allstar (1:57.1) in Race 8 and Fire Of The Dragon (1:56.3).
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Fraser Downs.