Degas Protege earned her first stakes victory with a 1:56.1 effort over a sloppy Fraser Downs oval in the $20,000 final of the Muriel Fornwald Memorial on Friday night.
The stake, named in honour of the breeder who passed away in 2010, is for three and four-year-old pacing fillies and mares that are B.C. owned, B.C. bred or B.C. sired and are non-winners of $30,000 lifetime (no allowances) as of January 1, 2013.
Blasting off the gate from the outside post six, even-money favourite The Sin Bin and J.F. Gagne established the early lead in Friday's feature event and carved out a :27-second opening panel.
But after getting away fourth, trainer-driver Rick White had Degas Protege on the attack as the field headed into the clubhouse turn. The four-year-old mare confront the leader at the :58.3 half-mile mark before clearing to command down the backstretch.
Degas Protege proceed to the third quarter station in 1:26.2 before drawing off by three lengths in the stretch to secure the victory and extend her win streak to three. She paid $6.20 to win as the 2-1 second choice. Longshot Sweet Like Candy and Serge Masse overtook The Sin Bin for runner-up honours.
Owned and bred by Sheryl Smith of Dewinton, Alta. and Patrick Stewart of Victoria, B.C., the daughter of Modern Art out of Fieldstone Franki now sports a career record reading 8-4-4 in 32 starts with earnings climbing to $42,158.
Later on the card, 2012 Muriel Fornwald Memorial Stake winner Phone Terror looked to have the $10,500 top mares class under wraps turning for home, but after bearing out in the stretch the favourite was defeated by the pocket-sitting River Lass, who glided by late in the mile for the three-quarter length victory in 1:55.4. Tim Brown drove the six-year-old As Promised mare for trainer Kelly Hoerdt and co-owner Blair Corbeil of Beaumont, Alta. Prairie Illusion and Keith Clark followed in third off a three-hole trip. The 33-time winner returned $10.70 to her backers as the 4-1 second choice.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs.