Series action at Fraser Downs entered the third preliminary on Friday (Oct. 30) with a pair of divisions for the Robert Murphy and Mary Murphy Memorials along with a single split for the Robert Millbank Memorial.
Major Custard coasted as the 1-5 choice in the opening division of the Robert Murphy Memorial. The three-year-old Custard The Dragon gelding grabbed command past a :27.1 opening quarter to lead his four rivals through fractions of :56.4 and 1:25.4 in progress to a three-length victory in 1:54.1. Sporty Dragon overtook pocket-sitter West Coast Beach for second while Wits Beach gave chase in fourth.
Co-owned by trainer Jim Marino with J J J Stables, Major Custard remains undefeated from 12 starts this season while winning his 17th from 19 overall, earning $230,695. Brandon Campbell drove the $2.30 winner.
Outlaw C My Shadow, sent the 4-5 second choice, kept the 4-5 favourite Strateontilmorning at bay to win the second division of the Robert Murphy Memorial. Sitting second to a :28.3 first quarter, trainer-driver Connie Kolthammer circled his three-year-old Shadow Play gelding to the front while Strateontilmorning settled for the pocket before a :56.3 half. From there Outlaw C My Shadow faced little pressure past three-quarters in 1:24 and strolled to the finish two-and-a-quarter lengths better than Strateontilmorning in a 1:52.1 mile with Vertical Squirt another seven lengths behind in third.
A homebred for Oulaw West Stable, Outlaw C My Shadow won his fourth race from 16 starts this season and his sixth from 26 overall, earning $57,604. He paid $3.90 to win.
Probert protected position from the pylon post to score as the 1-9 favourite in the opening division of the Mary Murphy Memorial. Trainer-driver Rod Therres took command from the pylon post with his three-year-old Dali filly and led uncontested through fractions of :29.1, :59.3 and 1:28. Rockinwithcustard angled first over from late past the half and marched towards the pacesetter moving to the final turn, but managed to close only within one-and-three-quarter lengths of the winner at the end of a 1:56.1 mile. Danzig Dharma held third with Gin Onn The Horizon fourth.
Winning her fifth race from 10 starts this season and her 12th from 17 overall, Probert has earned $148,440. She paid $2.20 to win.
Rockin With Lou rolled to the top and strolled to the finish as the 1-9 public choice to win the second division of the Mary Murphy Memorial in 1:54. Trainer-driver John Chappell charged the three-year-old Sweet Lou filly to the point before a :28.4 opening quarter and cruised through middle splits of :58.2 and 1:26.1 towards a three-and-three-uqarter length victory in 1:54. Moosette, who broke at the start, rallied from last for second while pocket-sitter Indigo Beach settled for third.
Owned by Keith Clark and Doris McDougall, Rockin With Lou won her fourth race from 13 starts this season and her seventh from 19 overall, earning $52,958. She paid $2.30 to win.
Loaded Dragon managed to upend the 4-5 favourite Kootenay Santanna in the lone division for the Robert Millbank Memorial. Away second to a :28.1 opening quarter, Loaded Dragon stayed put in the pocket while Kootenay Santanna set the pace toward a :57.4 half and to three-quarters in 1:26.4. But when Ynotthishos tipped first over from fourth, he flushed Loaded Dragon out of the pocket as the Custard The Dragon gelding took aim at Kootenay Santanna around the final turn. Into the stretch the Paul Urquhart trainee surged to the lead, downing Kootenay Santanna by a length while Ynotthishos held third and Sam The Cat finished fourth.
Now a two-time winner from three starts, Loaded Dragon has banked $17,500 for owner-breeder Simone Urquhart. Rod Therres drove the $7.60 winner.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs.
A wagering oddity occurred in
A wagering oddity occurred in the 3rd race, 2nd division of the Robert Murphy. Outlaw C My Shadow won at odds of 0.95-1 but was NOT the favourite!