The Thursday evening program at Fraser Downs was dedicated to youngsters, as two-year-olds slugged it out in four divisions – two for colts and geldings and a pair for fillies - of the BC Breeders Stake
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The colts were first up, with one of the $10,000 contested prior to the card as a non-wagering event and the other tilt used to kick off the 10-race program.
True Humility took the non-wagering division in a time of 1:57.1 for trainer/driver Rod Therres, who co-owns the son of Usher Hanover-Dal Reo Damsel with partner Charles MacFarlane of Victoria, BC.
The colt parked past the quarter pole in :28.4 before marching to the top. Once he grabbed the racetrack, he proceeded to slice out middle splits of :59 and 1:28.4 before sprinting home in :28.2 for the 1:57.1 decision. It was just over a length back to runner-up Kootenay Mike, with Nobody Can rounding out the top three. The homebred is now 2-for-2 to start his career.
Dontmakemebeg matched his lifetime mark when he stepped to a 1:58 victory in the second division for driver Jim Marino and trainer Ed Hensley. The son of Kents On Nuke-Zenobia laid down splits of :28.3, :59.2 and 1:28.4 before jetting home in :29.1 to win by three-quarters of a length over Who Hit Jimmy. Dont Say Anything grabbed the show dough.
The homebred, who is owned by J J J Stables of Aldergrove and Alan Anderson of Willows, CA, now owns a 2-1-0 record in four lifetime starts.
Next up were the gals in their $10,000 assignments, and Margarets Spirit had no problem delivering as the 1-9 favourite in the first division for the tandem of trainer Ron Lancaster and driver Serge Masse. The Camcracker-Angie Girl miss front-stepped through demanding panels of :27.2, :55.4 and 1:25 before coasting home in 31 seconds en route to posting the nine-length decision in a career-best clocking of 1:56. Been Down Before was second best and third prize went to Big Bucks Betty.
Bred and owned by Wild Dunes Stables of Delta, BC, Margarets Spirit improved to 2-1-0 in three tries with the triumph. The 1:56 clocking missed the Fast Lane Delila’s track record by one fifth of a second.
Trainer/driver Rod Therres enjoyed his second win in the BC Breeders Stake thanks to a 1:56.3 score in the second division for the fillies with track record holder Fast Lane Delila. The daughter of Camcracker-Lindwood Delila sat third a the quarter pole before brushing to the top before the mid-way point. She went the distance from there, winning by three-quarters of a length decision over Dealingwithhos. Red Star Tweedy tagged along to finish third.
Therres and partner Charles MacFarlane of Victoria, BC share ownership on the rookie who is now 3-for-3 to start her career.
To view Thursday’s harness racing results, click here.