Cheyenne J missed out on the winner's circle celebrations in both her British Columbia Sires Stakes elimination and final by less than one length, but sought redemption on Friday night at Fraser Downs in the first of four $7,500 BC Breeders Stakes eliminations for freshmen
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Trainer-driver Dave Hudon and Cheyenne J, the 2-1 second choice in the first of two filly elims, followed the popular BCSS champion Slow And Easy (Kevin Anderson) through panels of :28.2, :59.4 and 1:29 before pulling the pocket and gliding on by to break her maiden in 1:58.4 over the 'good' surface. Slow And Easy finished one and a quarter lengths behind in second and Alverna (Brad Watt) finished well back in third.
Cheyenne J paid $6.40 to win for the first time in three career starts. The daughter of Youdontknowjack-Carson Jane is owned and bred by Vancouver's Bill Boden.
Fresh off a victory in a maiden event, Mach Maiden Heaven delivered on her pari-mutuel promise in the second filly elimination.
After sitting fourth for most of the mile, Mach Maiden Heaven and trainer-driver Scott Knight rallied home off cover to score the 1:59.4 triumph by three-quarters of a length. First over Te Anau (Serge Masse) swept to command around the final turn, but was out-sprinted by Mach Maiden Heaven and settled for second. Pocket-sitter Yarhos (Richard Lancaster) finished third. Fast Lane Wealth (Mike Short) carved out the race fractions of :28.2, :59.3 and 1:29.2, but began to tire in the stretch and faded to last.
Mach Maiden Heaven paid $3.30 to win. The Mach Three-Greek Maiden filly, now two-for-two in her career, is owned and bred by Lavender Hills Farm of Langley, B.C.
Also entering his elimination -- the first of two for the boys -- off a maiden-breaking victory, Gotta Have Nukes beat out his stablemate, BCSS starter Hector Protector, in the fastest division of the night.
Gotta Have Nukes, trained, driven and owned by Rick White, cleared the lead at the :28.4 opening quarter ahead of Hector Protector (Glenn White). However, Hector Protector moved back out for the retake and forced his barn buddy to play follow-the-leader through middle splits of :59.3 and 1:28.3. Gotta Have Nukes sat the two-hole trip, but then unleashed a :28.4 final frame to come on for the two and a half length score in 1:57.3. Hector Protector held on for second over Red Star Cameron (Andrew Arsenault).
Gotta Have Nukes paid $3.20 to win as part of the favoured entry. He is now two-for-three in his career.
Thieving Magpie and driver Darren Howald pulled off a mild upset over BCSS champion Getmethruthenite giving trainer Rick White a sweep of the colt eliminations.
Thieving Magpie came charging home from fourth in :29.3 to win his elimination by two lengths in 1:59.2. The popular Getmethruthenite (Jim Marino) finished second off a three-hole trip. Anasazzi Road (Grant Hollingsworth) was third. Thunder Noise (James Burke) finished fourth after carving out fractions of :29, 1:00.2 and 1:29.1.
Iamarichcamto appeared to escape serious injury after hitting the wheel of Red Star Chip (John Abbott) at the top the stretch while seventh and falling to the track. Driver Scott Knight remained in the sulky during the mishap and walked Iamarichcamto off the track after removing the horse's equipment.
Thieving Magpie paid $10.80 to win as the 4-1 third choice. The gelded son of Usher Hanover-Red Star Finalee, who finished third in the BCSS final and won his previous start, is owned by David and Freda Woolley of Langley, B.C.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs.