Three-year-old pacers were the stars of the Thursday evening show at Fraser Downs, as the oval hosted a set of divisions of the Robert Murphy Breeders Stakes for colts and geldings in addition to a pair of Mary Murphy Breeders Stakes for fillies.
The boys were up first in the Robert Murphy Breeders Stakes, and Mister Hat proved to be a cut above the others in his $15,000 assignment. The son of Mister Big-Shirley Hall got away fourth and sat fourth while Mystic Ruler hung up fractions of :27.4, :57.2 and 1:25.2. Mister Hat revved up the engine in the late stages of the contest and used a :28.4 closing quarter to win by a length over On Tahuya Time in a career-best clocking of 1:55.1. Race favourite Blissful Angel was third.
Sent off at odds of 9-1, Mister Hat nabbed his first win of the year for the Westerners Stable of Wetaskiwin, AB. J.F. Gagne guided the Marjorie Dumont pupil to the fourth win of his career. The lion’s share of the purse bumped his bankroll to $33,793.
Illwinifican was sent off as the 1-9 favourite in his $15,000 division, and he didn’t disappoint his army of pari-mutuel supporters. The son of Allamerican Native-Builttowin Hanover got away second before rushing the lead in the second quarter. The gelding sliced out middle fractions of :58.2 and 1:28 before roaring home in :28.1 to win by 4-1/4 lengths over Tahuya Roadster in 1:56.1. Key To The Moon took home the show dough.
Trainer/driver Dennis Johnston of Cultus Lake, BC shares ownership on the pacer with Ray Thomson of Surrey, BC. It was the third win of the season for the career winner of $42,750 who is now a five-time winner to date.
The first division of the Mary Murphy Breeders Stakes for fillies went to Dancersluckyseven and driver John Chappell in 1:57. Making her debut for trainer Tim Brown, the pacing lass enjoyed a two-hole trip behind Fast Lane Elektra. That foe fired through panels of :27.1, :58.1 and 1:27.1. Dancers Luckyseven took a shot at the leader in the late stages of the mile, and her :29.3 closing speed was more than enough to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Fast Lane Elektra in 1:57. Millbanks Writer was third.
In her debut for trainer Tim Brown, Dancers Luckyseven was sent off at odds of 9-1. Sandra Roberts of Surrey, BC owns the three-time winner, who upped her overall cash stash to $27,650 with the victory.
Watchmyluck won an accident-marred final division in 1:58.4 for driver J.F. Gagne and trainer Marjorie Dumont. She got away in mid-pack and remained there through the first half of the contest. Call Your Mamma recovered from an early break and charged to the lead in the second quarter. She made another break going to the three-quarter pole, and when she did she set off a chain reaction of interference to trailing horses. Shes All That (Rick White) and Fast Lane Firebolt (Clint Warrington, Jr.) were both impeded and fell as a result of the interference. Watch My Luck avoided the mishap and went on to win by three lengths over Kootenay Mystic. Hey Carrie Ann was fourth-placed-third. Call Your Mamma, who caused the commotion and interference to others, was third-placed-seventh and disqualified for her actions.
There was no word on the condition of the horses or the drivers involved in the mishap. Trot Insider will post an update once details are announced.
Gagne shares ownership on the undefeated Watch My Luck with Peter Van Seggelen of De Winton, AB and Carl Warnaar of Kelowna, BC. The sophomore, who was unraced as a rookie, is now 2-for-2 with purse earnings of just over $10,000.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Fraser Downs.