Da Magician didn’t use any deceptive tactics during Fraser Downs’ $12,000 Open Pace on Sunday, December 23, as the gelded bay ground down the front end for a convincing win over a ‘sloppy’ track.
The Serge Masse-owned and trained four-year-old was sent postward as the public’s even-money choice. Much to the delight of his backers, Da Magician didn’t have to pull a rabbit out of his hat in order to get the job done.
Da Magician and driver Paul Davies surveyed the field as the starting-gate car sped away and opted to let some combatants get it on early.
Cool Cowboy (who was driven by Jim Marino) wanted the point early, as he raced overland past a stubborn Three More Smiles (Kelly Hoerdt) and clicked off the opening quarter in :27.1 over the track that was rated one second slow.
Cool Cowboy didn’t have much time to enjoy the engine, as the Scott Knight-driven Illwinifican, who was sent off as the 5-2 second choice, ranged up first-over from third. Illwinifican quickly made the point and was in charge as the half-mile time flashed to life in :56.3.
Seizing the opportunity to follow suit, Davies then called on Da Magician to show his compadres what he had to offer. The son of Dragon Again set his sights on Illwinifican and the duo sparred mano et mano through the third quarter, past the three-quarters pole, which rang up in 1:24.4.
Illwinifican was up for a fight, as he made Da Magician show his cards and race all out in the final quarter. The latter seemed to find another gear as the fight turned to the homestretch. Da Magician, who raced relatively wide in the stretch, was surely the fresher horse in the lane, as he went on to post the convincing victory. The time of the mile was 1:53.4 and Da Magician returned $4.30 on a successful Win wager.
Illwinifican finished second and bottomed out the $14.30 exactor. The Rod Therres-trained and driven Buddy Weiser, who had laid off of the multiple fracases that had ensued in front of him throughout the course of the mile, rallied home with late pace to finish third and complete the $57.10 triactor.
The win was the 13th of Da Magician’s 23-race campaign, which has also seen him record four second-place finishes and a lone third. He has now banked $92,659 in seasonal purses and has won 26 races and $336,000 over the course of his career.
To view the harness racing results for Sunday at Fraser, click the following link: Sunday Results – Fraser Downs.