Three-year-old pacers starred in first round action of the BC Breeders Stake on Friday at Fraser Downs. The betting public managed to fare well in both $15,000 Robert Murphy Breeders Stake divisions for colts and geldings as well and one of the two $15,000 Mary Murphy Breeders Stake divisions for fillies
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In the first division for pacing colts and geldings, Camblazer used a strong closing quarter to come on for the 1:55 score over a track upgraded to good with a variant of one for the stake events starting in Race 8. After an early tussle for the lead, 12-1 Cody Cobraski (Jeff Stone) settled on top at the :27.3 opening quarter leaving Red Star Renegade (David McKellar) parked out and driving on. Cody Cobraski fought back and shook off his first challenger past the :56.3 half-mile marker, but was tested again by Stop Calling (Kevin Anderson), who poked a neck in front at the 1:25.4 third quarter.
A persistent Cody Cobraski gained the upper hand at the top of the stretch, but would be denied the victory tonight as Camblazer and trainer/driver David Hudon came flying home in :28.4 off cover. The Camcracker-Squeaker Hanover colt was three and a half lengths the best, stopping the clock in 1:55. Stop Calling finished second with his entrymate Not So Over (Jim Marino) third, leaving fourth place for Cody Cobraski.
The win was Camblazer’s seventh in 13 starts this year lifting his earnings to $76,627 for owner/breeder Bill Boden of Vancouver, B.C.
The second split went to Red Star Whippet, who conjured up a 1:55.1 front-end score for driver James Burke and trainer Robert Merschback. Bling Kaching (Barry Treen) hustled off the gate from Post 3 but was overtaken by Post 7 starter Red Star Whippet at the :28.2 first quarter. The Storm Compensation-Bring A Smile gelding carved out the remaining panels of :57.3 and 1:26.2 and then unleashed a :28.4 closing quarter to seal the deal. Red Star Whippet prevailed by two and a quarter lengths over Interstate Five (Ed Hensley) with Ronnie Rickles (Scott Knight) nine and a half lengths back in third.
Red Star Whippet, who is owned and bred by Robert Murphy of Surrey, B.C., won for the first time in eight starts this year lifting his earnings to $19,899.
BC Stallion Stake winner Id Rather Be Lucky had luck on her side tonight in the first division for fillies. Using the inside post to her advantage, the 3-1 second choice fired off fractions of :28.1, :59.2 and 1:29.1 en route to a 1:59.2 score by a length and a half. Longshot Pureform Aurora (Carl Sibiga) closed well for second with heavy favourite Nazko Finally (Gerry Hudon) finishing third off a pocket trip.
The winning Righteous Hanover-Maxillas Memory filly gave Serge Masse a driving double on the night. Rod Therres trains and co-owns the winner of three races in 16 seasonal starts and $53,852 in earnings with James Vinnell of Langley, B.C.
In the final filly division, Legal Suspensory went wire-to-wire to win by three and three-quarters in 1:58.1. Driver Darren Howald sent the Pulledsuspensory-Als Jenna miss to the top from Post 5 and she rolled past stations of :29.1, :59.2 and 1:28.4 without facing any strenuous challenges. The Thomas Miller trainee then fired off a :29.3 final quarter to earn her fourth straight victory.
Owned and bred by Shale Stables of Merritt, B.C., Legal Suspensory is now eight-for-nine in 2009 with $33,162 banked.
The second leg for three-year-olds is scheduled for Saturday, October 31 and the top nine money earners will return for the finals, which are slated for Wednesday, November 11.
Earlier on the card in Race 2, Clash Of The Pacific champion Stiletto Hall continued his winning ways in the $12,000 Open Pace with trainer Serge Masse at the lines. The seven-year-old gelding claimed the lead after being parked to the opening quarter in :27.3 by inside starter C A Maurader (James Burke). The 4-5 favourite fronted the field through a :56.2 half while Timberline Court (Gerry Hudon) advanced from fifth, flushing Neal Diamonique (Keith Clark) from third en route to the next quarter marker 1:24.4.
Stiletto Hall shook off Neal Diamonique’s challenge at the third check-in point and leapt to a two length lead at the top of the stretch, but Timberline Court was looking for an 11-1 upset and chipped away at that margin with strong closing strides. Stiletto Hall did manage to find the wire just in time for the victory by a head in 1:53.3 over a sloppy track, which was rated two seconds off. Just Plug It In finished third while Neal Diamonique faded to fourth.
The son of Blissfull Hall-Say Youll Love Me is owned by Don M JR Stables and Don Byrne Stables 2008 Inc., of Edmonton, Alta. The win was his 16th in 27 starts this year lifting his earnings to $129,260. Stiletto Hall’s 32nd lifetime score pushed his bankroll over the $300,000 plateau.
To view Friday’s harness racing results, click here.