A stakes-filled card was served up Monday afternoon at Fraser Downs, and fans were treated to a record-equalling performance by Major Custard in one of the four $100,000 stakes finals.
Major Custard matched West Coast Beach’s track standard for two-year-old pacing geldings when he toured the oval in 1:53.4 en route to winning the $100,000 Robert Millbank Memorial.
Brandon Campbell put the Jim Marino trainee on the lead right from the outset, and together they led the group through fractions of :27.3, :57.4 and 1:26. A :27.4 closing panel was enough for the son of Custard The Dragon-Chemistry Major to seal the deal. He won by a half-length margin over West Coach Beach, with third prize going to Strateontilmorning.
J J J Stables and Jim Marino share ownership on the youngster who extended his winning streak to three-in-a-row with the win. He’s manufactured a 4-2-0 record from six starts this season while stashing away more than $75,000 to date.
Campbell and Marino also found their way to victory lane with Mrs Suhwiggins in the $100,000 Mary Murphy Breeders Stake for three-year-old pacing fillies.
The daughter of Custard The Dragon-Michelles Fury went to the early lead and had the field chasing her past the quarter pole in :26.3, but she gave way to Hottieonthehorizon in the second quarter. That foe then led the field through middle fractions of :57 and 1:25.3. Mrs Suhwiggins found clearance in the lane and used a :29-second closing panel to win by a head over Ocean Wind in 1:54.4. Race favourite Hottieonthehorizon weakened late and settled for third.
J J J Stables of Prince George, BC owns the sophomore who improved her 2019 record to 5-3-2 from 16 starts with the win. The nine-time winner has stashed away over $212,000 in career earnings.
Probert captured the $100,000 Betty Millbank Memorial for two-year-old pacing fillies in 1:56.3 for owner/trainer/driver Rod Therres of Langley, BC.
Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, the daughter of Dali-Outlawcherishafool got away second before brushing to the front shortly after Indigo Beach tossed out opening quarter speed of :28.1. Probert sprinted to the lead and then carved out middle splits of :58.1 and 1:27.4. A :28.4 final quarter was enough for the favourite to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Riverunshappy in 1:56.3. Indigo Beach was third.
The undefeated lass now boasts a six-for-six record and a bankroll that climbed to $82,900 with the victory.
Kneedeep N Custard went wire-to-wire in the $100,000 Robert Murphy Memorial Breeders Stake in 1:52.4 for co-owner/trainer/driver Kelly Hoerdt.
The son of Custard The Dragon-Art Amour sliced out fractions of :26.2, :56.2 and 1:24.4 before using a :28-second closing quarter to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Spiderman. Thankyaverymuch took home the show dough in the rich affair.
Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, the gelding extended his winning streak to six-in-a-row while pushing his yearly win total to 14 for Hoerdt and partners Blair Corbeil and Fred Gilbert. Unraced as a rookie, Kneedeep N Custard has banked $202,002 to date.
On the undercard, Custard Lite was second-placed-first in the $12,000 Fillies & Mares Open for Team Abbott.
Tahiti Seelster stepped to the front and served up fractions of :26.3, :56.2 and 1:24.2 before weakening. Blue Grotto made a late break when sitting third, but she regained her composure and went on to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:53.1 over Custard Lite. Sell A Bit N was third and Tahiti Seelster was fourth.
The inquiry sign went up following the race, however, and after review the judges placed even-money favourite Blue Grotto to fifth for causing interference to Thats It while on the break in the late stages of the mile.
Custard Lite was awarded the win, with Sell A Bit N and Tahiti Seelster rounding out the Trifecta ticket.
John Abbott mapped out the winning trip for the Gord Abbott trainee, who was sent off at odds of 11-1. The four-year-old daughter of Custard The Dragon-Enlightened One won for the 17th time in her career while lifting her lifetime earnings to $221,860 for partners Lorne Duffield and Rod Hennessy.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Fraser Downs.