In the first of two $25,000 stake finals featured this weekend at Fraser Downs, Camblazer made his 2010 debut a winning one for trainer-driver Dave Hudon
and owner-breeder Bill Boden of Vancouver, B.C.
While Red Star Whippet (James Burke) claimed the early lead, Hudon tucked Camblazer into the three-spot from Post 6. After a :27.1 opening quarter, Camblazer made his move and advanced through a :56.3 half with Best Dream Seeker (Ed Hensley) and favourite Wrangler Hitech (Keith Clark) following his cover.
The gelded son of Camcracker-Squeaker Hanover surged ahead of the early leader and opened up two lengths on the field of nine before reaching three-quarters in 1:24.2. In the stretch, Camblazer continued to reign supreme as he coasted to the wire in 1:53.4 over a track rated ‘good’ and two seconds off.
“I was looking for Keith’s horse [down the lane] and I was looking for maybe a couple more because my horse was pretty tired there the last little bit,” said Hudon in a post-race interview.
Wrangler Hitech made a three-wide move and sprinted home to finish second two and a quarter lengths behind the winner while Red Star Whippet rounded out the top three.
After capturing the Robert Murphy Breeders Stake final last year at Fraser on November 11, Camblazer headed to Northlands Park for a few starts before taking a short winter break. The bay finished off his three-year-old season with a record reading 9-4-2 in 18 starts and a bankroll of $132,277.
“He needed a little rest and we had him back here for about two weeks now to get ready for this race,” said Hudon.
Camblazer’s 11th lifetime score bumped his earnings to $164,795.
One race later, Hudon picked up another victory aboard Adorable Killean. Despite being parked out the entire mile, the six-year-old daughter of Astreos-Odessa Blue Chip won the $13,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace in 1:54.3. Sent postward as the longest shot on the board at odds of 15-1, Adorable Killean prevailed by three-quarters of a length over Lickcreek Jazzy (Ed Hensley) and Judges Acenthehole (Jim Marino).
Hudon trains the winner of 14 races and $170,445 for owners Kelly Hudon of Surrey, B.C. and Nigel Holmes of Belle River, Ont. The win was her first of the season in five starts.
Sunday’s matinee card, which gets underway at 1:15 p.m., will feature the Miss Valentine final for four-year-old pacing mares.
To view Saturday's results, click here.