There was plenty of power on display at Fraser Downs on Saturday afternoon thanks to a program that featured eliminations for the Miss Valentine and the River Rock Resort Cup.
It was chalk city for the boys in the River Rock Resort Cup eliminations, but that wasn’t the case for the gals in the Miss Valentine tilts.
Marla Hanover was a powerhouse winner in her first start of the 2009 campaign, and she did so as the 3-1 second choice in the wagering. In rein to trainer David McKellar, the four-year-old Western Ideal miss drew off to win by more than four lengths in a time of 1:57.1.
Meter Maid came on late to finish in the runner-up spot while Nazko Shelley, who was sent off as the 1-2 favourite, could only managed a third-place finish in the five-mare affair.
Robert Murphy of Surrey, BC holds the papers on Marla Hanover, who upped her lifetime earnings to $63,999 with the win.
Murphy was all smiles two races later when Caru Hanover rallied for a 1:57.3 tally in her $8,625 Miss Valentine elimination. Trainer Brent Beelby guided the four-year-old Artsplace miss to the winning decision.
She used a :28.4 final quarter to haul down the heavily favoured pacesetter, Alexaastrordinaire, who had to settle for second prize. Miss Prom sat a pocket trip throughout and rounded out the top three.
The win propelled Caru Hanover’s lifetime earnings to $23,971.
In the first $12,000 River Rock Resort Cup elimination, Royal Morn romped to a two-length score in 1:54.3 for trainer/driver Rod Therres. It was the third consecutive victory for the four-year-old son of Usher Hanover, who is now a 14-time winner in his career.
Sent off as the 2-5 choice, Royal Morn front-stepped his way through fractions of :26.4, :57 and 1:26 before scooting home in :28.3 en route to defeating Stiletto Spur and Up Front Palone.
Therres and partner Charles MacFarlane of Victoria, BC watched the pacer’s bankroll swell to $209,992 with the winning effort.
Happy Larry, who along with stablemate Onemoreyear, was sent off as a 1-5 favourite in the second elimination and he didn’t disappoint for trainer/driver Bill Davis. The four-year-old son of Real Artist steamrolled to a 1:56.1 victory for owner Larry Schmidt of Abbotsford, BC.
Davis whacked out panels of :27.1, :57 and 1:26.3 with the pacer, who only needed a :29.3 final frame to seal the deal over Lil Rock N Rustler and Onemoreyear.
In just 18 lifetime starts, Happy Larry has put together a 7-2-5 record and more than $100,000 in earnings.
Fraser Downs will hosts finals for both stake events next Saturday afternoon. The Miss Valentine for BC-owned or bred mares goes for $25,000 while the River Rock Casino Resort Cup for four-year-old colts and geldings carries a purse of $40,000.
To view Saturday’s results, click here.