The Betty and Robert Millbank Breeders Stakes for two-year-old pacers continued over a sloppy Fraser Downs racetrack on Friday night featuring two repeat winner and a pair of maiden-breakers in the four third leg divisions worth $7,500 each.
John Zahara's homebred Millbanks April broke her maiden with an 11-1 upset in the first filly flight with James Burke in the sulky for trainer David Bilyk. The Usher Hanover-G Vs Cam Can miss sat fourth for most of the mile before wearing down the favoured pacesetter Hurts So Bad (J.F. Gagne) for the 2:02 victory. Nazko Tribute (David Hudon) finished third.
Judys Lass cleared to command early on and then settled for a pocket ride before sweeping by Justnothatintoyou (Kevin Anderson) to win the second filly division in 1:59.3 by more than three lengths. Longhot Millbanks P M (Brad Watt) rounded out the top three finishers over 20 lengths behind. Trainer/driver Jim Marino shares ownership of the Real Desire-Judy Is A Fox filly, who won her first leg division and missed by just a neck in round two, with Herbert Boggs.
Dr. James Findlay's Battle Station swept from third to first before the third quarter mark in the first division for the colts and opened up four and a quarter lengths on the field before hitting the wire in 1:57.1. Trained and driven by John Hudon, the Red Star Senator-Red Star Cloudy colt was followed under the wire by Westridge Warrior (Jim Marino) and Ideal Art (John Abbott) in his first career win.
Marino doubled up in the third round of stakes action with Now Playing going wire-to-wire in 1:57 in the other colt division. The Usher Hanover-Inez Seelster gelding won by four and a quarter lengths over Kootenay Positive (Rick White) and One Last Shot (John Abbott). Now Playing, also a second leg winner, is trained by Michael Bourgeois for owner Charles Merritt.
In regular racing action, Sunbury Stables' seven-year-old homebred Jans Rich Girl and catch-driver David McKellar used the passing lane to circle a field of seven in the $12,500 Fillies & Mares Open Pace. The Scott Knight trainee won in 1:55.4 over the popular pacesetter Just Fiction (Jim Marino) and Hokie Spirit (J.F. Gagne). The victory was her 30th lifetime and lifted her bankroll over the $250,000 mark.
Friday's card was part of a special fundraising event at Fraser Downs in support of the Tiny Bundles Program at the Surrey Food Bank. The Tiny Bundles Program is specifically designed for pregnant moms and families with babies aged newborn to one year. Tiny Bundles "moms" receive a food hamper every week as well as fresh eggs and milk while pregnant or nursing. Hampers are supplemented with fresh vegetables and other nutritional items when available.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs.