Two-year-old pacing gelding Bettors Mark wrapped up the Robert Millbank Breeders Stakes preliminaries with his perfect record intact on Friday night as Fraser Downs hosted the fourth leg of the freshman stakes.
Bettors Mark cruised wire-to-wire in his $15,000 division in 1:57.2 over the "good" track for his fourth consecutive win in as many starts. John Chappell catch-drove the Bettors Delight-Shesaquestionmark gelding for trainer Bill Davis and owner/breeder Evert Vandenborn of Langley, B.C. Credit Risk pulled the pocket turning for home, but had to settle for runner-up honours for his fourth race in a row, while Fire Of The Dragon came on for third.
Trained and driven by Clint Warrington Jr., the maiden-breaking Bobby Dazzler converted off a pocket trip and defeated pacesetter One Big Cat, who was victorious in his first three prior preliminary divisions. Bobby Dazzler prevailed by half a length in 1:57.3, sparking a $95.10 win payout. Timetoplaythegame finished third after challenging for the lead first over at the three-quarters mark. The win was the first in five career starts for the Village Jiffy-Dal Reo Millee gelding, who is owned by David and Freda Woolley of Langley.
Five-time starter Charabby also earned her first career win in a filly division of the Betty Millbank Breeders Stakes for injured Surrey horseman Rick White and his wife Janet. Paul Davies worked out the winning three-hole trip aboard the Blue Burner-Roxy Roller filly and wore down pacesetter Hanalei Bay to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.1 with :28.3 final quarter speed. Jet To The Beach finished third off a pocket ride.
Mach And Roll Baby earned her third straight stakes win as she held off the pocket-pulling No Guarantees by half a length in a 1:59.1 mile for driver Jim Marino and trainer Randy Rutledge, who also shares ownership with Aldergrove's Jennifer Dodsworth. The Mach Three-Forever Holy filly is now three-for-four to start her career. Bossy followed back in third.
The $100,000 divisional finals are scheduled for B.C. Breeders Classic Day, Nov. 11.
The weekly $10,500 Open was won by the J J J Stables's four-year-old pacer Comes Home First, who went a career-best 1:52 mile over the off track with Marino aboard. The son of Brandons Cowboy, who has raced in Alberta for most of his career, boasts a perfect record in his three Fraser Downs starts.
Favourite Sterling Cooper led the field through fractions of :27, :55.3 and 1:23.4 before being overtaken by Comes Home First, who sprinted his final quarter in :27.4 off a pocket trip. Bettor In The Bank was third.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs.