Da Magic Coco ($2.80) and If Only Id Known ($2.10) delivered encore performances in their respective $10,000 second-round divisions of the Betty Millbank Memorial for two-year-old pacing fillies, contested Wednesday (Oct. 21) at Fraser Downs.
After delivering a 13-1/4-length drubbing in the opening round, Lucy Raymond's Da Magic Coco matched her 1:55.3 mark with a three-length score in the first split of the second preliminary.
Serge Masse again drove the daughter of Custard The Dragon and Phone Terror, who yielded to Crush Me (Kelly Hoerdt) through a :28.2 first quarter before retaking the lead with a circuit to go. After rating middle splits of :58.2 and 1:27.1, Da Magic Coco steadily edged clear on the home turn and amassed three lengths of clearance in victory over Custard Smoothie (Brandon Campbell), who overtook Crush Me off the home turn for the runner-up spot.
Heather Davies trains Da Magic Coco, who is now perfect in four career starts to date.
In the second Betty Millbank division, If Only Id Known proved just as strong on the pace as she did from the pocket the week prior, drawing away to a five-length, 1:56.3 win.
Brandon Campbell sent the daughter of Shadow Play and Michelles Fury to a clear lead from post five, and the pair travelled uncontested through splits of :28.2, :59.2 and 1:27.4. On the far turn, If Only Id Known began to separate from pocket rival Hang On Sloopy (Scott Knight), and also evaded the late challenge of stablemate Inaboysdream (Hoerdt) — who narrowly took second — to improve to a perfect three-for-three.
Trainer Jim Marino owns If Only Id Known in partnership with the J J J Stables.
Following a third-place finish to Kootenay Santanna in the first round, Sam The Cat ($3.30) proved the lone winner in the second round of the Robert Millbank Memorial for rookie pacing colts and geldings, brushing from third and holding sway for a 1:57.3 score.
Brandon Campbell sent the son of Sportswriter and Cats Meow after Rapido Dom (John Chappell) after a :28 first quarter, and after achieving the lead with a lap to go, Sam The Cat pulled the pace back through a 1:00 middle half. Up the backstretch and through the far turn, Sam The Cat worked to keep a sustained challenge from the first-over Like A Shadow (Knight) at bay, ultimately prevailing by 1-3/4 lengths. Rapido Dom finished third.
Sam The Cat is now two-for-three for the J J J Stables.
The second Robert Millbank split was voided after Call Your Dragon, who lagged the gate badly at the start, broke stride and fell on approach to the first turn. Driver Brandon Campbell maintained the remainder of his assignments on the card.
After teaming up for a stakes double, both Campbell and Marino registered five wins on the 13-race program.
To view Wednesday's complete results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Fraser Downs.