After some early commotion, Gracie Montana landed a perfect pocket trip and defeated the pacesetting Rummys Command in Friday's featured $10,500 Fillies & Mares Open at Fraser Downs.
Just One More left from post five to establish the early lead over insider Prairie Illusion. However, as Prairie Illusion attempted an early move edging out of the pocket, Just One More got rough gaited and the top two were taken outside as they lost ground.
Rummys Command emerged with the lead during the :28-second opening quarter and Gracie Montana was next in line. Meanwhile, Prairie Illusion managed to settle into third after the interference and then moved first up, with Just One More recollecting herself in the outer tier.
Rummys Command led the mares through middle splits of :57.2 and 1:25.2 before Gracie Montana made her move in the stretch and went by for her first win of the season. She prevailed in 1:54.3 over Rummys Command while her fellow Keith Clark stablemate, Skade, finished third. Keep The Dream edged out Prairie Illusion for fourth while Just One More finished out of the money in sixth.
Bill Davis trains and drives the eight-year-old Camluck mare, who returned $4.40 to win at the betting windows as the 6-5 favourite. She is owned by Jeffrey and Debbie Elchuk of Surrey, B.C.
The win was Gracie Montana's 39th lifetime and brought her career earnings to $334,368.
Meanwhile, it was Davis' third on the card in the first six races. The 2014 O'Brien Award of Horsemanship winner also swept the early Daily Double with On The Hunt ($3.10) and Alert Again ($2.70).
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs.