Despite favourite Paperback Thriller's best efforts to sneak up on Scardy Cat late in the mile, there was no catching the Jim Marino trainee, who ran away from her rivals in Fraser Downs' $10,800 Fillies & Mares Open Pace featured on the rainy Friday night card.
J J J Stable's homebred Scardy Cat found comfort in the winner's circle for the second straight week and was one of four winners on the 12-race card trained by Marino. Last week, she defeated stablemate Sell A Bit N and Northfield Nellie at the Surrey oval and faced those rivals once again.
Sell A Bit N took the lead in the first turn this evening, out-sprinting inside starter Northfield Nellie but Scardy Cat, with John Vukelich picking up the catch-drive, made a quarter-pole move at the :27 mark and swept to command. She reached the half in :57.2 before opening up an insurmountable four-length lead down the backstretch to three-quarters in 1:25.3.
Although the favourite Paperback Thriller, who nearly won the last Open two weeks ago at the Surrey oval, rallied three-wide from the backfield, there was no catching Scardy Cat as she won by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:55 over the 'good' track. Paperback Thriller finished ahead of second choice Sell A Bit N.
Scardy Cat, a five-year-old Sportswriter mare, is now three-for-five this year and has won 15 races and $249,791 in purses lifetime. She returned $16 to win as the 7-1 third wagering choice.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs.