What could be a big day at the office this Friday (Nov. 6) at Fraser Downs for trainer and owner Jim Marino might also be a lucrative night away from home for driver Doug McNair.
McNair will have four chances to make the 8,400-kilometre round trip from his home base at Woodbine Mohawk Park to Canada's Pacific coast a worthwhile one, as he has secured a drive in each of the four $75,000 co-features on the British Columbia Breeders Classic card — including three for trainer Jim Marino.
"They all look pretty legit," McNair told Trot Insider. "Hopefully I can get lucky and win one or two! Jim is the top trainer out there; he will have them ready to rock, I would have to expect."
One of those solid contenders is Fraser track record holder Custard Smoothie, who is among the eight rookie pacing fillies to square off in the Betty Millbank Memorial. In last week's preliminary, the daughter of Custard The Dragon edged clear of her stablemate If Only Id Known in 1:55 to set the new divisional standard at Fraser. This week, she will line up from the outside post eight and has been installed at 7-5 on the morning line, behind If Only Id Known (Brandon Campbell, post two), who is the 6-5 early favourite.
Custard Smoothie, shown in her track record win in last week's final preliminary, is one of three Jim Marino trainees that Doug McNair will drive on Friday's British Columbia Breeders Classic Night program at Fraser Downs.
Despite the draw, McNair is optimistic about his chances:
"She looks good in there," he said. "I don’t think the draw will hurt that much."
Inaboysdream (Scott Knight, post three) rounds out the trio of Marino fillies in the Millbank field. They will all benefit from the absence of the undefeated Da Magic Coco, who was not entered in the Betty Millbank due to sickness, according to the filly's trainer, Heather Davies.
McNair and Marino will also team up in both three-year-old finals, sending Rockinwithcustard in the Mary Murphy final for fillies and Strateontilmorning in the Robert Murphy final for colts and geldings.
Rockinwithcustard is the 3-1 third choice in the Mary Murphy, behind Rod Therres' Probert, who rides a four-race win streak into the event — including a clean sweep of the Mary Murphy preliminaries. The daughter of Dali has been installed the 6-5 favourite, and will start from post four.
Despite Strateontilmorning's 2-1 rating in the Robert Murphy for McNair and Marino, it is another Marino trainee who is likely to attract most of the attention.
Major Custard has torn through a stakes-packed schedule this year, banking $141,545 while going undefeated in 12 races, both at Century Downs in Alberta and at Fraser.
"He's been a good horse for us," said Marino, who co-owns the Custard The Dragon gelding with the J J J Stables. Surprisingly enough, Marino hasn't been inundated with calls to sell the sophomore, who is slated to head back to Alberta for the Western Canada Pacing Derby at Century Mile.
In the Murphy, usual driver Brandon Campbell will steer the 6-5 morning line favourite from post two.
McNair's quartet of stakes drives is rounded out by Like A Shadow, who is one of two Richard Lancaster trainees to contend the Robert Millbank for juvenile colts and geldings. Kootenay Santanna is the 2-1 morning line favourite in the eight-horse field, having finished second in his second and third preliminaries after a resounding 1:55.2 win in the first round. Kelly Hoerdt will drive the son of Santanna Blue Chip for trainer Kyle Chadwick.
To view Friday's complete entries, click the following link: Friday Entries – Fraser Downs.