A pair of front-end trips worked out in favour of three-year-olds Oral Fixation and Stop Calling, who captured their respective $25,000 BC Sales Stake Finals over a track rated two seconds off
during Saturday’s Boxing Day matinee program.
In the non-wagering BC Sales Stake Final for three-year-old pacing fillies, Oral Fixation made her first start for trainer Brent Hill and new owner Corry Hill of Surrey, B.C. a winning one. With James Burke in the bike, she left from Post 2 and raced past panels of :27.4, :57 and 1:25.3 before crossing under the wire in 1:57.1.
The Kents On Nuke-Zenobia miss prevailed by a length and a quarter over first leg winner Run Way Star (Dave Hudon). Pureform Misskiss (Carl Sibiga) closed from the backfield to finish four lengths behind in third.
The victory was Oral Fixation’s fourth of the year in 19 starts and lifted her earnings to $63,177. The winner of five races lifetime now sports a bankroll totaling $83,332.
Pat Brennan Memorial champion Stop Calling returned to the winner’s circle after capturing the matching BC Sales Stake Final for colts and geldings. After leaving from Post 2, Kevin Anderson directed the Kents On Nuke-Plain Image N second choice through stations of :28.4, :57.4 and 1:26.4 before pulling away from the field by over six lengths for the 1:55.4 victory.
Cody Cobraski (James Burke) journeyed first up to beat the pocket-sitting Interstate Five (Ed Hensley) for second.
Unraced at two, Stop Calling has won half of his 10 starts earning $69,610 for trainer Debra McCarthy and owner Mark Anderson of Willows, California.
In Open action, co-favourite Just Plug It In and trainer/driver Ed Hensley battled with Lilsharkshooter (Jim Marino) to the opening quarter in :28.4 before taking over and leading to the :58 half and 1:26.4 third quarter. The Artsplace-Electrical Express gelding then used a :29-second final frame to push away from his challenging stablemate, Ridgeline (Mike Hennessy), and stop the clock in 1:55.4.
Lilsharkshooter finished a length and a quarter behind in second over Ridgeline.
Just Plug It In, who is owned by the J J J Stables of Aldergrove, B.C. and Cassandra Uppal of Blaine, Washington, earned his second consecutive win at the Open level. He has won seven of 24 starts during his five-year-old campaign earning $94,728 in purses. Over the course of his career, the 18-time winner has banked $282,086.
To view the charted lines from Saturday’s special non-wagering card, click here. For results from the regular program, click here.