Fraser Downs hosted pacing sophomores for the second round of the Robert Murphy Memorial, for colts and geldings, and the Mary Murphy Memorial, for fillies, on Thursday night (Oct. 6).
Lets Tie One On (pictured above) took the first and faster division of the Robert Murphy Memorial in a 1:52.4 mile. Sent off as the 9-5 favourite, driver Scott Knight swept to the lead with Lets Tie One On after a :26.4 first quarter and cruised through middle splits of :56.3 and 1:24.4. The Vertical Horizon colt then braced for a stretch bid from pocket-sitter Joe Dimagio, who he held off by a half length while Jimmyachance faltered off a first-over push to finish third and Joe Rich took fourth.
Chris Lancaster conditions Lets Tie One On for owners Derek Gilbert and Kelly Hoerdt. He won his ninth race from 21 starts, has now earned $130,848 and paid $5.80 to win.
Trainer-driver Kelly Hoerdt persevered through a first-over grind with favourite Chuck You Farlie to win the other Robert Murphy division, timed in 1:53.3. The colt by Custard The Dragon sat third into a :26.3 first quarter and peeled off the pegs into a :57.2 half. He made a steady advance on pacesetter A Dudes Promise into the backstretch to then take the lead passing three-quarters in 1:25.2. From there, he put away A Dudes Promise and strolled to the finish two lengths better than Itll Be Fine, who tracked the winner's move to take second. So Strange rallied for third and Mystic Hunter finished fourth.
Hoerdt co-owns Chuck You Farlie with Blair Corbeil and Ralph Morrow. He won his fifth race from 25 starts, has now earned $46,524 and paid $4.10 to win.
Gotta Wear Shades popped pocket to score a 1:55 victory later in the card in the first division of the Mary Murphy. Angelsonthehorizon cleared the lead from Gotta Wear Shades past a :26.4 first quarter and endured minor first-over pressure from Roseange into a :56.4 half. Roseange folded into the backside while trainer-driver John Vukelich activated Gotta Wear Shades and challenged the pacesetter through three-quarters in 1:26. Gotta Wear Shades lost ground rounding the final turn, but regained momentum when straightening to slide to a length victory over Angelsonthehorizon. Shes Bodacious finished third and River Boat Rosie took fourth.
Co-owned by John Vukelich with Edwin Loughhead, Gotta Wear Shades won her fifth race from 26 starts and has now earned $33,474. The daughter of Custard The Dragon paid $5.30 to win.
Similar pocket-pulling tactics paid for Shoot The Whiskey in the other Mary Murphy division. Driver Brandon Campbell sat chilly with the daughter of Shadow Play as Memum Knowsnothing carved a clip of :27.3, :57.1 and 1:26.1 on the point. Spinning for home, Shoot The Whiskey shot her shot and landed a half length in front at the finish of a 1:55 mile. Tin Foil Hat recovered from an early break by the quarter to take third and Kittie Cat closed for fourth.
Jim Marino trains and co-owns Shoot The Whiskey with J J J Stables. She won her 10th race from 17 starts, has now earned $101,678 and paid $2.90 to win.
The four-year-old JK Royal Flush mare Century Mach scored a narrow victory in the $10,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace. Trainer-driver Kelly Hoerdt, who also owns the 17-time winner and earner of $93,583, stuck to the cones as Hottieonthehorizon set a tepid tempo of :29.1, :59.2 and 1:27.3 before facing opposition to the far turn. Moosette pulled pocket to challenge the leader coming for home, leaving a gap for Century Mach to take over before diving through the open stretch to seize a neck victory in 1:55.1. She paid $3 to win.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Fraser Downs.