Boiling Oar ($17.70) overcame an eventful journey to spring a mild upset in the $30,000 Cloverdale for four-year-old pacers on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 3) at Fraser Downs.
Paul Davies floated Boiling Oar forward off the outside wing of the gate, and the pair settled into the fourth spot at the completion of a :26.3 first quarter after stalking an early duel between 30-1 outsider Canadian Pharoh (Rod Therres) and Ready N Steady (Travis Bowman). With a circuit to go, Boiling Oar began a first-over ascent after being flushed out by favourite Exit Smiling (Jamie Gray), and he made steady ground into a leisurely :31.3 second quarter before forcing a quickening pace up the far side.
After nudging Canadian Pharoh along with three-eighths to go, Boiling Oar was able to settle into the pocket and stalk a developing duel prompted by Solongo (Carl Sibiga) — who charged up from midfield — past three-quarters in 1:25.3. Turning for home, Solongo struck the front, but Boiling Oar surged up the open stretch to take over a sixteenth from home en route to a 1:55 win. Peace Out Posse (Kelly Hoerdt) vaulted off cover in upper stretch to take second, 1-1/4 lengths back, while Solongo was third.
Exit Smiling, who was sent off the 7-5 public choice, finished seventh in the field of eight after failing to catch cover on two separate occasions.
Jim Marino trains eight-time winner Boiling Oar, a four-year-old Shadow Play gelding, for the J J J Stables.
In the sub-featured $12,000 Open Pace, Da Magician ($4.40) and Scott Knight brushed from third after tracking a :26.2 first quarter, was used to clear Cool Cowboy (Tony Succarotte) through a :56 half, and kept the first-over Iwontdothatagain (Hoerdt) a length at bay in 1:53.
Serge Masse owns and trains 29-time winner Da Magician.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Fraser Downs.