Pacers put on quite a show Friday evening at Fraser Downs, as the British Columbia oval hosted the third leg of the Robert Millbank Memorial Breeders Stake for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings plus the third leg of the Mary Murphy Breeders Stake for three-year-old pacing fillies.
Mach Steady captured the lone division of the Robert Millbank Memorial Breeders Stake for the team of driver Serge Masse and trainer/co-owner Randy Rutledge. The son of Mach Three-Forever Holy whizzed past panels of :28.2, :58.4 and 1:28.1 before firing home in :28.3 to win by 1-1/4 lengths over race favourite Bakardi Gold in 1:56.4. Third best was Ima Dude.
The homebred gelding, who also races for Jennifer Dodsworth of Aldergrove, BC, made it back-to-back wins. The $10,000 payday lifted his lifetime earnings to $21,250.
In the first of two $15,000 divisions of the Mary Murphy Breeders Stake for three-year-old pacing fillies, Jet To The Beach brushed to the top past the quarter pole and rolled to an impressive victory in 1:56.2 for trainer/driver/co-owner Glenn White of Surrey, BC.
The daughter of Jeremes Jet-Midnight Jenny, who also races for Mike Morrison of Madeira Park, BC, went 1-for-7 last year. She’s stepped up her game this season as noted in the 7-for-8 record she’s put together in 2016. She’s already stashed away more than $73,000 to date.
No Guarantees eked out a neck decision in the other division of Mary Murphy Breeders Stake. Paul Davies plugged the Debra Mc Carthy pupil into the two-hole, and the filly sat there until the late stages of the mile. She uncorked a :27.4 closing quarter, and that propelled her to the neck decision over Mysterious Lady. Bossy rounded out the top three finishers.
J J J Stables of Prince George, BC owns the six-time winner, who owns a 3-2-0 record from seven trips to the track this season. The $7,500 payday boosted his bankroll to $95,988.
Illwinifican was a handy winner on the undercard. The four-year-old son of Allamerican Native-Builttowin Hanover rallied to an impressive score in the $10,500 Open Pace.
The gelding got away sixth and held that position through first-half fractions of :27.2 and :57.3. She was third over on the way to the three-quarter pole, and when trainer/driver Dennis Johnston of Cultus Lake, BC pulled the trigger the gelding responded with a :28.2 closing kick. The margin of victory was 1-1/2 lengths over Premium Stock in 1:55. Pillage And Burn was next in line.
Sent off as the 6-5 favourite, Illwinifican broke into the win column for the first time this season. The nine-time winner, who notched seven of those wins last season, is owned in partnership by Ray Thomson of Surrey and Dennis Johnston of Cultus Lake of BC. He’s put away more than $120,000 in career earnings.
To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results – Fraser Downs.