Three-year-old pacers were out in full force Thursday evening at Fraser Downs, as the British Columbia oval hosted the fourth legs of the Robert Murphy Breeders Stake and the Mary Murphy Breeders Stake.
Redneck Jim kicked things off with a 1:56 triumph in his $15,000 division of the Robert Murphy Breeders Stake for colts and geldings. The son of As Promised-Lady Motion was treated to a three-hole trip through fractions of :28, :57.1 and 1:26 before trainer/driver Dennis Johnston went into attack mode with the gelding. Redneck Jim, who was sent off at odds of 8-1, found clearance and used a :29.2 kicker to win by 1-1/4 lengths over race favourite Mystic Ruler in 1:56. Tahuya Roadstar was third.
Johnston shares ownership on the homebred with breeder Ray Thomson of Surrey, BC. Unraced as a rookie and just five starts into this year’s campaign, Redneck Jim improve his record to 2-0-0 while his purse earnings jumped to $11,915.
Those partners made a round trip to victory lane thanks to a Race 2 triumph with Illwinifican in the second division of the Robert Murphy Breeders Stake. The son of Allamerican Native-Builttowin Hanover laid down fractions of :29.3, 1:00 and 1:27.4 before sprinting home in :28.1 to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Blissful Angel in 1:56. Mister Hat took home the show dough in the $15,000 affair.
Sent off as the 1-2 favourite, Illwinifican posted his sixth win of the season for trainer/driver Dennis Johnston, who co-owns the eight-time winner with Ray Thomson. It was the fifth consecutive triumph for the career winner of $65,250, who is now perfect in the preliminary legs of the Robert Murphy Breeders Stake.
The girls were up next in the Mary Murphy Breeders Stake, and Watch My Luck won for the fourth time in as many tries in thanks to a 1:56.1 victory in her $15,000 assignment. J.F. Gagne got away third and held that position to the half before catching cover on the way to the three-quarter pole. Fast Lane Elektra supplied fractions of :28.1, :59 and 1:27 before tiring. Watch My Luck kicked off cover and fired home in :28.3 to win by a half-length margin over Scarlet V in 1:56.1. Millbanks Writer was third.
Marjorie Dumont trains the daughter of Camluck-Watch Over Me for Gagne and partners Peter Van Seggelen and Carl Warnaar. The lightly-raced lass has banked $25,700 to date.
Fast Lane Firebolt snapped a long losing streak with a 1:58.4 score in the other $15,000 division. Clint Warrington mapped out a two-hole trip for the Darren Lupul trainee, who watched Dancers Luckyseven supply splits of :28, 1:00 and 1:28.2. Fast Lane Firebolt angled out of the pocket and closed in :30.1 to win by three-quarters of a length over race favourite Dancers Luckyseven in 1:58.4. Kootenay Mystic completed the top three finishers.
Lupul owns the daughter of Allamerican Cobalt-Rodeo Princess, who won for the second time this season and for the third time in her career. She’s managed to stash away more than $53,000 in her career.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Fraser Downs.