Rod Therres steered his pupils to victory in the two $20,000 divisions of the BC Sales Stakes for three-year-old filly pacers at Fraser Downs on Sunday, April 21.
Ocean Wind swept to the lead in the stretch and held off odds-on favourite Tough It Out to win the opening division in 1:54.2.
Therres placed the Sunshine Beach filly second as Hottieonthehorizon hustled to a four-length lead approaching a :26.4 first quarter. Backing to a half of :56.3, Hottieonthehorizon's lead diminished as Ocean Wind tipped off the rail moving to the backstretch, carrying Tough It Out into contention. Ocean Wind edged to within a length of control past a 1:25 third quarter, but lost ground rounding the final turn that she recouped through the lane. Tough It Out rallied off cover but settled for a second a half length away while Hottieonthehorizon faltered to third.
A homebred for Therres and Veikko Pajunen, Ocean Wind won her third race from six starts this season and her fifth race from 13 overall, earning $54,050. She paid $6.90 to win.
Rockin Mystery wired her competition in the second split, winning by four lengths in 1:55.
Clearing command from the outermost post, Rockin Mystery opened a three-length lead over race-favourite Mrs Suhwiggins heading to a :27.4 opening quarter. She then slowed the pace towards a :57.2 half before revamping the tempo to a 1:25.4 third quarter all while facing no challenge for the lead. The Mystery Chase filly widened her lead into the stretch and heading to the wire while Mrs Suhwiggins settled for second six-and-a-half lengths ahead of Feel So Close in third.
Owned by Therres and Blair Miller, Rockin Mystery won her first race from five starts this season and her fifth from 14 overall, earning $87,865. She paid $4.80 to win.
Later in the card, Kelly Hoerdt steered Iwontdothatagain to a 1:54.4 neck victory in the $12,000 Open Pace. The eight-year-old Stonebridge Regal gelding led unchallenged through fractions of :29.1, :59.1 and 1:26.4 with Solongo sitting a loose pocket. Into the stretch, Solongo vacated the pocket in pursuit of the leader but finished short of victory. Boiling Oar closed for third.
Winning his first race from 10 starts this season and his 32nd from 123 overall, Iwontdothatagain competes for owners Hoerdt and Ed Keryliuk. He paid $4.80 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Fraser Downs.