The Scott Knight-trained Lil Dude Starrbuck and Lilsharkshooter dominated the Open ranks on Friday night at Fraser Downs for the second straight week finishing first and second
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Tonight’s edition of the $12,000 top pace was not exactly the same as last week’s though as the stablemates switched up their order of finish.
Lil Dude Starrbuck, the runner-up last week, and Knight blasted off the wings of the gate from Post 5 and put up a :26.4 opening quarter with Just Plug It In (Ed Hensley) and his 1-2 co-favoured entrymate Lilsharkshooter (Jim Marino) following in behind. The eight-year-old son of Threefold-Almahurst Irish led the field of seven in single file alignment past the half in :56 before Almost No More Bs (David McKellar) attempted a first-over challenge.
As Lil Dude Starrbuck raced past three-quarters in 1:24.2, Almost No More Bs began to gain ground but couldn’t quite catch the pacesetter down the lane. Lil Dude Starrbuck managed to hold off last week's winner Lilsharkshooter, who split horses in the home stretch to come within a half a length of the lead. The winning time of the mile was 1:53.2 over a ‘good’ track rated one second off. Just Plug It In finished a length behind in a photo with Almost No More Bs.
Lil Dude Ranch of Surrey, B.C. owns Lil Dude Starrbuck, a winner of five races in 22 seasonal starts and $62,130. Fraser’s track record holder notched his 32nd lifetime win tonight and pushed his bankroll to $513,884.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click here.