Two-year-old pacers faced off in Friday’s $10,000 eliminations for the BC Sales Stakes in an attempt to secure a spot in next weekend’s finals at Fraser Downs
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The colts kicked off the stakes action with a pair of events before the ladies took center stage for their two eliminations. The top four finishers in each elim advance to the finals.
The last turn offered up some challenges for the freshmen colts in the first elimination as pacesetter Remain Silent made a costly break as did Casino Warrior, who fell to the track.
Remain Silent (Kevin Anderson) carved out fractions of :28.1, :59.1 before Branding Party ($3.40) and driver Jim Marino pulled the pocket. The 3-5 favourite was just a half-length away from the top at the third quarter in 1:29.1 and scooted to command as Remain Silent made a costly break into the final turn.
Around the turn, Casino Warrior (Don Monkman Jr.) also made a break while advancing on the outside and fell. Monkman remained in the bike and Casino Warrior was up on his feet shortly after the race and appeared to be okay.
In the stretch, Branding Party opened up nine lengths on the field before stopping the clock in 1:58.2. Remain Silent was second placed fourth for a violation of the breaking rule. Gramrun Jake (Tim Brown) and Brandon Bey V (James Burke) inherited second and third as a result of the placing.
Branding Party is trained by Paul Urquhart for local owner-breeder Simone Urquhart. The gelded son of Brandons Cowboy-Witskey earned his first lifetime victory after making six starts at Alberta Downs.
Midnite In La, the 2-5 favourite, was an easy winner in the next colt elimination for trainer-driver Ed Hensley.
The gelded son of Grinfromeartoear-Rolling Acres Rose forged his way to the lead from Post 5 and rolled past fractions of :28.1, :58.3 and 1:28.4 en route to a six and three-quarter length victory in 1:58. Longshot Crown Isle (Carl Sibiga) and Red Star Chuckles (Jim Marino) finished second and third. Fourth place finisher Just Ryan (Mike Hennessy) also made the final.
Midnite In La ($2.80) also broke his maiden after debuting at Cal Expo in Sacramento, California late this summer. He is owned and bred by the J J J Stables of Aldergrove, B.C. and Alan Anderson of Willows, California.
Cold And Heartless gave her rivals the cold shoulder as she made her first start a winning one in the first filly elimination.
The daughter of Kents On Nuke-Sparks Will Fly N watched from third as Millbanks Ariel (Rick White) and favourite Red Star Hannah (Tim Brown) traded turns on the lead through opening stations of :28 and :58.1.
Driver Kevin Anderson sent Cold And Heartless, the 7-2 third choice, first up down the backstretch to take over at the third station in 1:27.3 and sprint away from the pack for the 1:56.4 victory by five and a half lengths. Red Star Hannah and Millbanks Ariel finished second and third with longshot Gonnab Agoodknight (Scott Knight) grabbing the last spot in the final.
Debra McCarthy trains Cold And Heartless ($9.80) for owner Mark Anderson of Willows, California.
Making her second lifetime start in the other filly elimination, heavy favourite Just Fiction ($2.50) kept her record perfect with a wire-to-wire score for Hensley, the J J J Stables and Alan Anderson.
The homebred Kents On Nuke-Battalia Hanover miss left from Post 3 and carved out fractions of :27.4, :58.1, and 1:27.1 en route to a personal best 1:56.4. Pocket-sitter Viola (John Abbott) followed for second, finishing four and quarter lengths behind, with Anjelles Aura (Keith Clark) third and longshot Rustlers Maiden (Scott Knight) fourth.
Three-year-old pacing colts and fillies will battle in a pair of $25,000 BC Sales Stakes Finals Saturday night at Fraser Downs. First race post time is 7 p.m (PST).
To view Friday’s results, click here.