A close runner-up last week, Big N Bad caught defending Open champion Playbook at the wire to win this week's $10,500 pacing feature at Fraser Downs on Sunday afternoon.
Trainer/driver Keith Clark sent Playbook to the lead from the outside post six and carved out fractions of :27.2, :56.2 and 1:24.3. Big N Bad followed in the two-hole before trainer/driver Bill Davis tipped him to the outside rounding the final turn for the stretch drive. Kicking home in :28.1, Big N Bad wore down Playbook as they hit the wire for the 1:53 victory. I Hear Voices and James Burke followed two lengths behind in third.
The four-year-old Badlands Hanover gelding, who boasts two victories and has yet to miss the board in four starts this year, paid $5 to win as the 3-2 favourite.
Big N Bad earned his 10th career win and lifted his lifetime earnings to $97,781 for the J J J Stables of Aldergrove, B.C.
Prior to the Open, Anjelles Aura was a repeat winner in the BBs Mirage Series for $10,000 claiming mares, scoring from off the pace in 1:55.3. After posting a 32-1 upset in the opening leg, she was the 7-2 second choice in round two and returned $9.10 to her backers. John Chappell drove the six-year-old Jennas Beach Boy mare for Aldergrove trainer/owner Randy Rutledge.
Bareitall Hanover went wire-to-wire to win the other $7,500 division in 1:56 with David Hudon aboard. The seven-year-old daughter of No Pan Intended is trained by Ty O'Neill for local owner Bryan Buchanan. The favourite, who finished second by a neck in the opening leg, paid $4.70 to win and was claimed for $12,500 by Trevor Melnyk of Sherwood Park, Alta.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Fraser Downs.