It was a special night for the Abbotts Friday at Fraser Downs as 24-year-old John Abbott completed his first driving grand slam aboard Reserve Forces in the $12,500 Open Pace. Trained by his father, Gord Abbott, Reserve Forces prevailed over stablemate Storyeum
in 1:53.
Storyeum (Serge Masse) fired off a :26.4 opener in the featured 10th race while Ridgeline (Ed Hensley) crossed over from the outside Post 8 and tucked into the two-hole ahead of Reserve Forces. The field remained in single file alignment to the half in :56.2, where Abbott tipped his charge to the outside flushing Ridgeline out of the pocket.
Ridgeline applied pressure to the leader en route to three-quarters in 1:24 and stuck a neck in front but Storyeum dug in and regained control in the stretch. As that battle was put to an end, a new one began with Reserve Forces closing in on the pacesetter. Storyeum was forced to settle for second giving way in the final strides as Reserve Forces reached up to score by half a length. Making his 2010 debut, Primary Purpose (Rod Therres) rallied from the backfield to finish third with Beach Boy Toy (Dave Hudon) a close fourth.
The win was Reserve Forces’ first of the season in 10 starts for trainer Gord Abbott and owner Evert Vandenborn of Langley, B.C. The six-year-old son of Real Desire-Western Reserve has won 10 times in his career good for $179,158 in earnings.
One race earlier, Red Star Volcano joined Duca, Areyouinorout and Ridgeline as track record holders for aged geldings with his 1:51.4 winning effort. The time of the mile also equaled the Canadian season's record for aged pacers on a five-eighth mile track set by Blissfull Breeze and Ridgeline.
Trainer-driver Barry Treen directed the six-year-old son of Island Fantasy-Bantry through panels of :27.3, :55.4 and 1:23.1 en route to a six length score. After offering up an early challenge, Lilsharkshooter (Scott Knight) dropped in the pocket and followed the leader under the wire in second. Kiss My Cam (James Jungquist) rounded out the top three.
Tammy Lynn Turner, Annabelle De La Pena and Jack Thompson share ownership of the bay, who has recorded four wins and five seconds in 11 seasonal starts earning $29,551. The winner of 20 races lifetime has banked $126,166 to date.
To view Friday's results, click here.