Favourites Why We Were Chosen and D On Sanders delivered career-best performances to share the spotlight in the third leg of the Robert Murphy B.C. Breeders Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Sunday at Fraser Downs.
Why We Were Chosen and driver Serge Masse left from post five in the first $7,500 division and carved out fractions of :28.2, :58.1 and 1:27.2 en route to a 1:56.2 victory with second choice Imn Seventh Heaven following one and a half lengths behind from the pocket. Red Star Pirate (David McKellar), the 28-1 longshot in the field of six, finished third. Why We Were Chosen paid $3.30 to win.
The homebred Allamerican Cobalt-Dal Reo Damsel colt is owned and trained by Rod Therres. In 10 starts during his debut season, he has won four times with his latest a new career mark. Why We Were Chosen's earnings climbed to $52,955.
In the second $7,500 division, D On Sanders sat third for most of the mile before kicking home in :28.2 to win by more than four lengths in a career-best 1:55 clocking in rein to Scott Knight. Co-favourite Tahuya Rico (Bill Davis) finished second off a two-hole trip and 10-1 longshot Red Star Bootleg (John Chappell) was third. Pacesetter Now Playing (Jim Marino) faded to fourth after posting fractions of :28, :57 and 1:26. D On Sanders paid $5.20 to win.
Trainer David McKellar and partner Robert Collier share ownership of the Jennas Beach Boy-Natural Gift gelding, who was a runner-up in the previous two legs of the B.C. Breeders Stakes. After going winless in six starts as a freshman, D On Sanders has earned three victories in 13 sophomore starts to push his career bankroll to $26,743.
The fourth leg of the Robert Murphy B.C. Breeders Stakes will be held on Saturday, November 2 at Fraser Downs. The final, part of B.C. Breeders Classic Day, will take place on Monday, November 11.
Masse and Therres also teamed up later on the card to win the $9,500 Fillies & Mares Open Pace with 7-2 second choice Village Janus. The five-year-old mare prevailed by a head in 1:53.2 over Just Fiction (John Chappell) with favourite Prairie Illusion (Jim Marino) finishing over a length behind in third. Therres also shares ownership of the winner with partner Veikko Pajunen.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Fraser Downs.