It was stakes action galore served up Friday evening at Fraser Downs as two- and three-year-old pacers battled in second round action of the Robert Millbank Memorial, the Robert Murphy Memorial and the Mary Murphy.
Loaded Dragon captured the lone, $10,000 division of the Robert Millbank Memorial for two-year-old colt & gelding pacers in a non-wagering affair held prior to the pari-mutuel program.
The son of Custard The Dragon-Notha Load was rolled to the early lead by driver Rod Therres, who proceeded to cut out an opening quarter clocked in :28.2. Kootenay Santanna then took charge in the second quarter, and he rolled the field through middle splits of :58.1 and 1:27.2. Loaded Dragon popped out late in the mile and used a :29-second closing quarter to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Kootenay Santanna in 1:56.4. Ynotthishos was third.
Paul Urquhart trains the youngster, who produced the maiden-breaking win for owner Simone Urquhart. The gelding now owns a 1-1-0 record from two assignments and his earnings stand at $7,500.
Strateontilmorning went down the road in the first $10,000 division of the Robert Murphy Memorial for three-year-old colt & gelding pacers. The son of The Panderosa-The Pan Floridian led through splits of :29.1, :59 and 1:27.2 before scooting home in :28.3 to win by three-quarters of a length over Outlaw C My Shadow in 1:56. Third prize went to the late-driving Sporty Dragon.
Brandon Campbell guided the sophomore to the victory for trainer Jim Marino, who co-owns the colt with J J J Stables of Prince George, BC. It was the first win of the season – and the fourth to date – for the career winner of $50,787.
The same connections teamed up to take the other division with Major Custard in 1:54.2. The son of Custard The Dragon-Chemistry Major was pressed on the lead by West Coach Beach through fractions of :28.1, :57.3 and 1:24.4, but he withstood the pressure and held on to win by three-quarters of a length over Wits Beach in 1:54.2. Vertical Squirt was third.
Sent off as the 1-9 favourite, Major Custard improved his 2020 record to 11 wins from as many starts. He went 5-2-0 from seven starts as a freshman for Marino and the J J J Stables. The pacer has now racked up earnings totalling $225,695.
Probert was a wire-to-wire winner in the first of two divisions of the Mary Murphy for three-year-old pacing fillies. Owned, trained and driven by Rod Therres of Langley, BC, the daughter of Dali-Outlawcherishafool led the group through splits of :30.1, 1:00 and 1:28.4 before ripping home in :28.3 to win by 3-1/4 lengths over Rockinwithcustard. Danzig To Dharma took home the show dough.
The victory was the fourth of the season – and the 11th to date – for the filly who upped her earnings to $143,440 with the victory.
Rockin With Lou captured the other division in 1:54.1, and she did so in blowout fashion for trainer/driver John Chappell. The daughter of Sweet Lou-Ram Rocker rolled through fractions of :28, :57 and 1:26 before sprinting home in :28.1 to win by 5-3/4 lengths over Moosette. Riverunsnappy was third.
Sent off as the 1-5 choice, the filly improved her seasonal record to 3-5-1 from 12 starts with the win. The six-time winner, who is owned by Alberta partners Keith Clark and Doris McDougall, has banked just shy of $48,000 to date.
To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results – Fraser Downs.