Rookies and sophomores were in the spotlight Friday evening at Fraser Downs as the oval hosted a set of divisions for both the Betty Millbank Memorial Breeders Stake and the Robert Murphy Memorial Breeders Stake.
The three-year-olds were up first in the Robert Murphy Memorial, and Rockin N Talkin was a convincing winner in his $15,000 assignment for the duo of driver Bill Tainsh and trainer Jim Marino.
Rockin N Talkin sat third in the early stages of the mile while Buck And Run and Spiderman took turns on the lead through fractions of :27.1 and :57. Rockin N Talkin rushed to the front in the third quarter, and he proceeded to take the group to the three-quarter pole in 1:25.1. A :29.2 closing quarter earned the gelding the win by 5-1/4 lengths over Suspicious Runwild, with Sea Laird taking home third prize.
Sent off as the 1-9 favourite, the son of Custard The Dragon-Shes Just Rockin improved his 2019 record to 4-4-0 from 14 trips to the track. The eight-time winner bumped his bankroll to $134,920 with the win for Marino and his partners, J J J Stables of Prince George, BC.
Kneedeep N Custard was a front-stepping winner in the second division for trainer/driver Kelly Hoerdt.
The son of Custard The Dragon-Art Amour parked past the quarter pole in :28 before securing the lead. Once he cleared he proceeded to lay down fractions of :56.3 and 1:24.3 before using a :28.4 final frame to win by 3-1/4 lengths over Bettor Cat in 1:53.2. Major Winker was third.
Hoerdt, Blair Corbeil and Fred Gilbert own the gelding who was sent off as the 1-2 favourite in the contest. It was the third straight score for the pacer who now owns a solid record of 11-2-2 from 19 trips to the track this season. Unraced as a rookie, Kneedeep N Custard has now banked $137,002 to date.
The two-year-old fillies were up next in the $15,000 divisions of the Betty Millbank Memorial, and the first division saw race favourite Yjuliahos power away from her foes in the late stages of the mile.
In rein to Kelly Hoerdt, the Rick Lancaster pupil got away third and sat there while Indigo Beach sailed through first half fractions of :28.2 and :59.3. Yjuliahos made a first over move past the half, and she prompted Indigo Beach to the three-quarter pole in 1:29.1. Yjuliahos motored home in :29.4 allowing her to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Indigo Beach in 1:59.1. Bootscootn Annie came from next-to-last to finish third.
Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, the daughter of Trust The Artist-Chewy Hanover boosted her earnings to $23,390 for owner Ray Soh of Delta, BC. From eight starts in her freshman season she has managed to put together an impressive 2-3-3 record.
Hoerdt didn't win any other stakes on the card but dominated the rest, adding an additional four wins to finish the night with a six-bagger.
Probert was a wire-to-wire winner in the other division for her owner/trainer/driver, Rod Therres of Langley, BC.
He put the daughter of Dali-Outlawcherishafool on the lead from Post 5, and together they carved out panels of :29.3, 1:00.2 and 1:30 before storming home in :29.1 to win by three-lengths over Riverrunshappy. Rockinwithcustard rebounded from an early miscue to take home the show dough.
The 1-9 favourite is now undefeated in three tries and she’s stashed away $17,900 in the process.
To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results – Fraser Downs.