Pacers were in the spotlight Saturday evening at Fraser Downs, with the fourth legs of the Betty Millbank Breeders Stake for rookie fillies and the Robert Murphy Breeders Stake for sophomore colts and geldings going postward.
The boys sparred in two sets while just a single division was needed for the girls, and in all three instances the favourite got all the marbles.
D On Sanders was an impressive winner in 1:56 in his $7,500 assignment for driver Scott Knight and trainer David McKellar. The son of Jennas Beach Boy-Natural Gift spent a good part of the mile on the outside, but he poured it on late and drew clear to win by 2-1/2 lengths over Why Were We Chosen in 1:56. One Last Shot came on late to grab third prize.
Sent off as the 4-5 choice, D On Sanders, is now 2-for-2 since being added to the Lasix program. He went winless in six starts as a rookie, but he’s managed to put together a 4-2-2 record from 15 starts this season. Robert Collier of Victoria and David McKellar of Langley, BC share ownership on the career winner of $30,493.
Ideal Art lowered the boom on the six foes he faced, and that put a smile on the faces of the favourite players who sent him off as the 1-2 choice. John Abbott put the Gord Abbott-trained son of American Ideal-Athenas Art into an early two-hole, but he moved the colt to the top on the way to the half. Once in command, Ideal Art knifed out intervals of :59.2 and 1:28.3 before sealing the deal with a :29-second final frame. He won by 5-3/4 lengths over Imn Seventh Heaven in 1:57.3. I Dont Really Care took home the show dough.
Seaspray Stables Ltd of Nanaimo, BC owns the four-time winner who has picked up three of those wins in legs of the stake. He’s now 3-for-4 this season with seasonal earnings in excess of $17,000. He’s banked just shy of $23,000 to date.
Run And Tell increased her winning streak to three-in-a-row thanks to her 1:58.4 score in the lone division of the Betty Millbank Breeders Stake for two-year-old pacing fillies. Kevin Anderson got away fourth with the Debra Mc Arthy pupil before sending her first over on the way to the half. She cleared to the front in the backstretch and led by two lengths at the three-quarter marker in 1:29.2. A :29.2 closing quarter propelled her to the win by 5-1/4 lengths over Killemwithmyawsome in 1:58.4. Terrormissu rounded out the top three finishers.
It was the sixth win of the season in seven tries for the Power Of Art-Muddy Waters miss who is owned by Kevin Anderson of Willows, California. The lion’s share of the purse lifted her bankroll to $42,106.
To view results for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results – Fraser Downs.