As racing returned to Fraser due to numerous cancellations over poor track conditions, Safety Second strolled over a 'good' going to wire his competition in a $30,000 pace on Sunday, March 3.
Driver Kelly Hoerdt took the top with the four-year-old Custard The Dragon gelding and led unchallenged to a :28.1 quarter and :59.4 half. Favourite Working Class Hero, sitting fourth, edged first over into the backstretch and ranged to within a head of the lead to prompt the pace towards a 1:27.3 third quarter.
Safety Second opened his lead circling the final turn and held a three-length advantage over Working Class Hero turning into the stretch. The Chris Lancaster trainee coasted to the line in 1:56.1 two-and-a-quarter lengths in front of Working Class Hero holding second from pocket-sitter Grangallo in third.
Owned by Timothy Kane and J. Brandon Campbell, Safety Second won his third race from 26 starts, earning $18,925. He paid $6.30 to win.
Boiling Oar stalked dueling leaders and slid through the open stretch to take the $12,000 co-featured Open Pace by a half length in 1:52.1.
Da Magician cleared command from Boiling Oar pushing through from post one while Buddy Weiser also left for the top rounding the first turn. By the quarter in :27, Buddy Weiser failed to brush past Da Magician and instead matched strides with the leader through a :55.2 half and 1:23.3 third quarter.
Boiling Oar sat put in the pocket for the whole battle before shooting into the passing lane at the head of the stretch. Da Magician held firm through the stretch despite drifting but failed to outkick Boiling Oar in the final strides and settled for second. Iwontdothatagain, fanning wide around the final turn, closed for third.
Owned by the J J J Stables, Boiling Oar won his eighth race from 18 starts and has earned $126,169. Jim Marino trains and drives the four-year-old Shadow Play gelding who paid $15.00 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunrday Results - Fraser Downs.