Jim Marino took an aggressive approach with Veneno in Friday’s $30,000 Cloverdale Pace at Fraser Downs, and those tactics paid off handsomely as the gelding marched down the road for a 1:54.1 score.
Leaving from Post 5 in the nine-horse affair, Veneno darted to the lead and never gave way after slicing out fractions of :27.2, :57.4 and 1:25.4. The gelding stepped home in :28.2 to win by 2-1/2 lengths over race favourite Millbanks Bart in 1:54.1. Three More Smiles rounded out the Trifecta ticket.
Let go at odds of 6-1, the four-year-old son of Real Artist-Scoots N made it back-to-back wins for Marino and the J J J Stables. The four-time winner saw his bankroll climb to $74.646 with the win.
On the undercard, Royal Renegade turned a two-hole trip into a 1:53.2 triumph in the $12,000 Open Pace for driver David Hudon and trainer David McKellar.
Hudon grabbed the garden trip for his charge behind Next Thing Smoken, who sped through fractions of :26.3, :56 and 1:24.1. Hudon took his shot at the leader in the lane, and Royal Renegade kicked home in :29 to win by a pair of lengths over Next Thing Smoken. Taking home third prize was Southwind Jaden.
Sent off at odds of 5-1, the six-year-old son of JK Royal Flush-Palma Ceia won for the 16th time in his career. The career winner of $132,619 is owned by Paul Sanders of Surrey, BC and Christine Cutting of Beaumont, AB.
To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results – Fraser Downs.