West Coast Beach led all the way in his season's debut to win the $40,000 B.C. Sales Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Friday night (March 13) at Fraser Downs.
West Coast Beach carved out fractions of :27.3, :57.2 and 1:25.1 en route to victory in 1:54.4 with Sporty Dragon (Dennis Johnston) following 1-1/2 lengths behind. Wits Beach (Kelly Hoerdt), parked the entire mile, finished third.
Trainer/driver Rod Therres shares ownership of the homebred gelding with Veikko Pajunen. The son of Sunshine Beach is a full brother to 2019 Sales Stakes champion Ocean Wind and the third stakes winner out of Therres' 2010 Battle of the Belles victress Village Janus.
West Coast Beach paid $3.10 to win as the 1-2 favourite following a freshman campaign that ended with a victory in the Dan Ingram Memorial. He earned $57,066 last year finishing no worse than third in six starts. Tonight's victory marked his fourth win lifetime.
In regular racing action, the season-debuting B.C. Breeders Stakes champion Major Custard reported back to the winner's circle during Friday's 12-race card following a 1:55.3 score with Brandon Campbell driving for trainer Jim Marino and co-owner J J J Stables.
The victory was the fourth on the program for Marino, whose highlights included watching Sell A Bit N ($14.10) convert a pocket trip into a 1:55 victory in the $10,800 Fillies & Mares Open Pace. With Tony Kerwood aboard, the 10-year-old Julius Caesar mare overtook pacesetter Scardy Cat in the passing lane and held off the late-closing Steady Breeze by a neck.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs.