Sophomore pacers Illwinifican and Art Of Darkness were victorious in their respective $7,500 eliminations for the Wendell Smith Memorial Stakes on Sunday afternoon at Fraser Downs.
The stakes event is for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings that are B.C. bred or B.C. sired and are non-winners of $20,000 lifetime (no allowances) as of February 1, 2015. The $35,000 final will be held next Sunday, March 29.
Illwinifican romped to a four length victory in the first division, clocking the mile in 1:57.1, with Alwouldnotlisten (Brandon Campbell) back in second and Camita B And E (Rod Therres) moving into third.
Dennis Johnston trains, drives and co-owns the gelded son of Allamerican Native with Ray Thomson. Illwinifican was making his seasonal debut after earning five top three finishes (two wins) and $16,150 from five starts as a two-year-old.
The finish wasn't quite as clear cut in the second division with three horses just heads apart in a win photo. Pulling off a 9-1 upset, the Gord Abbott-trained Art Of Darkness and Dave Hudon prevailed off a three-hole trip over the popular pacesetter Mystic Ruler (Bill Davis) while Tahuya Know (Rick White) rallied on the far outside for third.
The Seaspray Stables's Armbro Deuce gelding, who broke his maiden in his 12th and final start of his freshman season, notched his second career win Sunday while making his seventh start this year.
This week's $10,500 Open Pace was won by favourite Sterling Cooper, who retook the lead just past the quarter pole and went on to win by three lengths in 1:51 flat for trainer, driver and co-owner Bill Davis and partner Jeff Elchuk. Gotta Have Nukes (Rick White) followed in second and Blue Star Admiral (John Chappell) finished third. A 25-time winner in his career, the seven-year-old son of Camluck is now four-for-six with a 1:50.4 track record on his seasonal scorecard.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Fraser Downs.