'Lil Dude' Repeats; Marino Wins Five

Published: October 21, 2012 08:37 pm EDT

Lil Dude Ranch's veteran pacer Lil Dude Starrbuck continued his current win streak on Sunday at Fraser Downs as he closed from second over to notch his fourth straight victory in the $12,500 Open Pace.

With James Burke in the sulky for trainer David McKellar, the 11-year-old gelding settled away fifth while early leader Gotta Have Nukes (Rick White), the lone sophomore in the field, gave way to Gramrun Jake (Jim Marino) past the opening quarter :27.2.

After being caught wide early on and finding a spot at the pylons in third, favourite Marlin Hanover (Scott Knight) launched a first over attack en route to the :57.2 half, but second over Cash Account swept wide around that foe down the backstretch with Lil Dude Starrbuck following his move as they neared the 1:25.4 three-quarters mark.

Burke waited until the top of the stretch to tip Lil Dude Starrbuck off cover and the bay son of Threehold kicked home in :28.3 to prevail by one and a half lengths. The winning time was 1:54.4 with the top six finishers separated by just two and a half lengths. Cash Account was second and the winner's stablemate, Garden Gate Ll (McKellar), closed well for third. Tax Relief (Brad Watt) got up for fourth over Gotta Have Nukes and Gramrun Jake.

Lil Dude Starrbuck paid $9.20 to win as the 7-2 second choice.

He earned his 46th career win and lifted his lifetime bankroll to $675,235.

Sunday's harness racing program was dominated by Fraser's leading driver Jim Marino, who won five of the 11 races. Marino began the card on a winning note aboard the maiden-breaking four-year-old Diamond Shark ($6) in the opener for trainer Erik Neyhart. He later won the fifth race catch-driving David Hudon trainee Cantbeatacheetah ($10) and the seventh with Bobbysslackkeystar ($2.90) for conditioner Ty O'Neill. Marino closed out the card with two more wins aboard veteran pacers Joe Millionaire ($9.50) for trainer Dustin Poloway and Prime Time Bliss ($7.60) for conditioner Terry Burstyk.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Fraser Downs.

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