Sterling Cooper's win streak came to an end as Buddy Weiser defeated him by a neck at the wire during Sunday's eliminations for the Jim Vinnell Memorial Pace at Fraser Downs.
In the first of two $10,000 Vinnell eliminations for older pacers, trainer/driver Brandon Campbell gunned seven-race streaker Sterling Cooper to the lead from post six and the 2-5 favourite carved out panels of :27, :57.2 and 1:25.3 while Buddy Weiser, last week's Open runner-up, moved into third on the backstretch and then took aim at the leader. Trainer/driver Rod Therres dropped Buddy Weiser into the passing lane and the 6-1 shot kicked home in :27.4 over the sloppy track to collar Sterling Cooper on the line in 1:54 flat. The four-year-old gelded son of Western Ideal, who established a new lifetime mark, is owned by Vancouver's Veikko Pajunen. Read The Proposal (Nick Roland) finished one and a half lengths behind in third off a pocket trip while Illwinifican (Dennis Johnston) and Cool Cowboy (Kelly Clark) completed the top five finish order.
Sabine Pass delivered as the 4-5 favourite in the second elimination for trainer/driver Paul Davies, forging three-wide around the first turn to the quarter in :28.1. Get Thereovernight (Kelly Hoerdt), the 9-5 second choice, reclaimed the lead on the front side and passed the half in :57.1 before Sabine Pass retook and reached three-quarters in 1:25.3. The popular four-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover then held off 17-1 longshot Premium Stock (Jim Marino), who rallied out of third down the stretch, to win by a half-length in 1:54.3 for owner Audrey Leighland of Maple Ridge, B.C. Comes Home First (Nick Roland) edged out Get Thereovernight in a photo for show. Son Of Anarchy (John Abbott) was fifth.
Older pacing mares also competed in a pair of $10,000 eliminations for the Lady Elements stake.
Last weekend's Mares Open winner American Passion and driver/trainer Brandon Campbell led the first elimination field through fractions of :28, :58.3 and 1:26.3 before fighting off the 2-5 pocket-pulling Tajmeallover (J.F. Gagne) to win by half a length in 1:54.4. The six-year-old daughter of American Ideal, who was sent postward as the 9-2 second choice, is owned by Raymond Henry of Calgary, Alta. Jet Hot Stuff (Rod Therres) came on for third, edging out Just One More (Jim Marino) and Prairie Illusion (Travis Bowman).
Phone Terror, the 9-5 favourite from the inside post in the second elimination, looped outside leaver Part Time Lady (Paul Davies) at the :27.4 first quarter mark and controlled the tempo through middle panels of :58 and 1:25.3 en route to the one and a quarter length victory in 1:55. Serge Masses trains and drives the seven-year-old Western Terror mare, who is owned by Lucy Raymond of Edmonton, Alta. Part Time Lady followed in second and Thats Extra (Kelly Hoerdt) rallied off cover to grab the third-place honours in a photo finish ahead of Goldies Mach (John Chappell) and Lydi Lula Belle (Jim Marino).
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Fraser Downs.