Trainer Jim Marino showcased a three-win evening at Fraser Downs on Thursday, Feb. 15 with a natural hat trick from races three to five. All three were driven to victory by Scott Knight.
Marino and Knight teamed up for their first victory in race three, a $4,400 claiming pace. Knight and Million Reasons ($5) followed a pocket trip to the half, tipped out at the three-quarters and then kept going to a half-length triumph in 1:57.1 for owners Marino and Shelley Eng.
In race four, the pair returned with Western Summit ($4.40) for a 1:57 victory by a head in the $7,500 distaff conditioned claiming pace. Paul Sanders co-owns the aged mare with Marino.
Tito Santanna ($4) completed the triactor of triumphs with a narrow victory by a nose in 1:56 in the $4,400 claiming pace. Marino owns the winner.
Marino finished second in the training rankings last year at Fraser with 78 wins over the season and nearly $700,000 in purse earnings. The Surrey, B.C. resident has made 18 starts this year with seven victories, four seconds and three thirds. With doubles entered in each of his three wins, Marino tallied those three victories along with two seconds, a third and a fourth from seven entered on Thursday evening.
Pirate Booty (pictured above) went gate-to-wire to win the $10,000 featured Fillies and Mares Preferred.
Terry Kaufman took his student straight to the top. The pair was caught on the outside in the lead through the opening panel in :28.1 before clearing along the pylons. Continuing through panels in :57.3 and 1:25.2, Pirate Booty sped home in :29 to a 3-1/2-length achievement in 1:54.2. Grey Sea (John Abbott) finished second with Gin Is Better (Clinton Warrington) third.
Kaufman owns the six-year-old daughter of Captaintreacherous out of the Western Ideal mare Honky Tonk Woman. Pirate Booty earned her 14th career victory from 47 starts to go along with $94,196 in career earnings. She paid $4.20 to win.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Fraser Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)