After an 0-for-4 start to the season, Major Winker took his game to another level on Friday and captured the $40,000 BC Sales Stake at Fraser Downs in gate-to-wire fashion for trainer/driver David Hudon.
Major Winker was hustled to the lead from Post 3, and the sophomore blazed his way through panels of :27.1, :57.2 and 1:24.3 before using a :29.4 closing quarter to win by 3-1/4 lengths over Spiderman in 1:54.2. Kootenay Mystery took home the show dough in the rich affair.
Sent off at odds of 5-1, the son of Wink N Atcha-Chemistry Major improved his 2019 record to 1-0-3 from just five trips to the track. The four-time winner lifted his lifetime earnings over $100,000 with the win. He is owned by Kelly Hudon, Ross Rees, John Carey and James Williams.
Custard Lite also pulled off a mini upset when she staved off late pressure en route to capturing the $12,000 Fillies & Mares Open for the Abbotts – driver John and trainer Gord.
The 11-time winner sat fourth through first-half fractions of :28.2 and :56.2 before powering to the lead at the three-quarter pole in 1:25.1. A :28-second final frame was enough to earn the mare the win by three-quarters of a length over Cusdmagicdragon in 1:53.1. Blue Grotto rounded out the Trifecta ticket.
Lorne Duffield and Rod Hennessy share ownership on the career winner of $180,798. It was the first win of the season from nine trips to the track for the pacer.
Cays Blessing extended her winning streak to three-in-a-row thanks to her triumph in a $9.300 conditioned event, but more impressive was the final time.
She sailed through fractions of :26.2, :55.1 and 1:23.1 for driver Serge Masse before using a :28.3 closing frame to win by 3-1/4 lengths over Mach And Roll in 1:51.4. The clocking was a new track record for older pacing mares. It took three ticks off Furious Five’s former record of 1:52.2.
Trainer Jim Marino co-owns the speedball with J J J Stables of Prince George, BC. It was the fourth win of the 2019 campaign for the five-year-old daughter of Western Ideal-Lifes Blessings.
To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results – Fraser Downs.