The biggest day of harness racing on British Columbia's calendar, B.C. Breeders Classic Day is in the books at Fraser Downs, and it was a day dominated by a pair of Ontario-based reinsman.
Millbanks Writer was sent off as the favourite in the $50,000 Betty Millbank Memorial Breeders Stake Final for two-year-old pacing fillies, and she got everything her way on the front end. With Serge Masse at the controls, Millbanks Writer forged her way to the lead off the gate with a swift :27 opener. Kevin Anderson settled second choice Fast Lane Elektra on her back, with longshots Fast Lane Firebolt (Clint Warrington, Jr.) and Kootenay Mystic (Bill Davis) comprising the top four.
Those fillies remained unchanged and unhurried through a wind-stiffened 1:00.3 half and wind-aided 1:30.4 third panel.
Around the final turn, Anderson pulled the pocket with Fast Lane Elektra and pressured the leader. That allowed third- and fourth-place horses room up the passing lane. With the favourite drifting, both Fast Lane Firebolt and Kootenay Mystic found room late. Davis and Kootenay Mystic hit the wire first over Warrington and 'Firebolt' by a half length in a time of 2:01.3.
"You never know, a horse race is a horse race," said Davis following the upset, stating that he felt the horses that raced 1-2 for the majority of the mile were the best in the race and that he was just hoping to "follow them around and make some money."
Davis confirmed that the wind in the horses' faces in front of the grandstand seemed to be getting worse, and thus "could be a factor on horses that are cutting the mile."
Both the first and second-place horses were sent off at odds of 31-1, prompting a $300.00 exactor.
It was the first lifetime win in four starts for Kootenay Mystic (Camystic - Creative Girl), a homebred owned by Bob Chadwick of Surrey, B.C. Kyle Chadwick trains.
Driver Doug McNair didn't take long to make his first appearance in the Fraser Downs winner's circle, winning in his first drive aboard Maid In The Hall for trainer Dennis Johnston. That duo later combined to capture the $75,000 Mary Murphy Breeders Stake Final for three-year-old pacing fillies.
McNair hustled third choice Go To The Windows out of the six hole for the early lead and got there over favoured T Squared (Rick White) in a swift :26.3. white right-lined early, looping to the front before the field passed the grandstand. After a :59.2 half with the second quarter paced into a strong headwind, T Squared was pressured by Run And Tell (Kevin Anderson) through a third panel of 1:27.1.
As the field turned for home, McNair ducked to the passing lane with Go To The Windows but challengers had fanned out eight wide down the stretch. Go To The Windows held off a hard-closing Philly Collins (Bill Davis) for the win in a lifetime best 1:58 with longshot Jay Majic (Dave Hudon) completing the triactor.
"Thanks to Dennis for bringing me out here," said McNair post-race. "Kudos to him for having the mare ready and the trip worked out.
"If you would have told me before the race that she'd have been [sitting] second in there, with the post she had and with the horse that looked like the one to beat...I was happy to follow her and the trip worked out. [T Squared] was run little bit down the backside, and in the passing lane I was lucky enough to get up for the win."
It was the second win in 11 seasonal starts for Go To The Windows (Allamerican Cobalt - Bold Beauty), owned as well by Dennis Johnston. The filly more than doubled her lifetime earnings with the victory, vaulted to $74,263.
Blissful Angel made a quarter-pole move to the lead in the $50,000 Robert Millbank Memorial Breeders Stake for two-year-old colts and geldings, and that proved to be the winning move for the son of Blissfull Hall-Angelic Smile.
In rein to Doug McNair, the colt got away third from the rail and together they watched Mister Hat slice out the opening quarter before taking matters into their own hands – and hooves. Blissful Angel cruised to the front and laid down middle splits of :57.3 and 1:26.1 before using a :29.4 kicker to win by 4-1/4 lengths over Mister Hat in 1:56. Illwinifican was a distant third.
Trainer Dennis Johnston of Cultos Lake shares ownership on the talented rookie with B.C.-based partner William Pambrun of Abbotsford. It was a maiden-breaking score for the rookie who pushed his lifetime earnings to $26,399 with the win.
Need You So Bad was a gate-to-wire winner for driver Billy Davis, Jr. in the $75,000 Robert Murphy Memorial Breeders Stake for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings. The gelding blasted to the lead from Post 4 and chopped out intervals of :26.4, :57.1 and 1:24.2 before using a :29.4 final frame to fend off Premium Stock by half a length in 1:54.1. Beach Boy was a well-beaten third in the rich tilt.
Bill Davis trains the son of American Ideal-Sendingforth for J J J Stables of Aldergrove, B.C. The victory was the fourth consecutive tally – and the seventh of the season – for the 15-time winner. The 1:54.1 score went down as a lifetime best for the career winner of $135,758.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Fraser Downs.