Da Magician Triumphs In Linton Final

Published: April 22, 2017 01:15 am EDT

Da Magician added the Keith Linton Memorial to his resume with a 1:53.1 career-best performance in the $75,000 sophomore colt stakes final featured on Friday night (April 21) at Fraser Downs.

Trainer/driver Serge Masse made his move early on with elimination winner Da Magician, looping to the lead ahead of Mateo (James Burke) as the field of three-year-old male pacers moved past the quarter-pole in 28-seconds. The Dragon Again-Hottie Hanover gelding then carved out middle fractions of :57.3 and 1:24.4 before holding off Mateo, who closed through the passing lane to finish three-quarters of a length behind. American Dreamer (Kelly Hoerdt) advanced first-over to show while Bakardi Gold (Jim Marino) followed in fourth and Senga Nitro (Ryan Grundy) rallied wide off cover turning for home to finish fifth after his elimination win last weekend.

The 1:53.1 winning time was Canada's fastest so far this year for a three-year-old on a five-eighths mile track and a new lifetime mark for Da Magician, who knocked three-fifths of a second off his former best set March 31.

Da Magician is undefeated in stakes action for Masse, adding the Linton to his resume that also includes freshman victories in the Century Bets Stakes, ASHA Colt Stakes, Horizon Pace and Fraser's Dan Ingram Memorial. Overall, he is an eight-time winner with a six-figure bankroll now totalling $113,330 from 17 starts.

In other action, J J J Stables' Lydi Lula Belle topped the Open mares as she prevailed from the pocket as the longest shot on the board in a lifetime-best 1:54.2 mile ahead of the pacesetting Tahiti Seelster (:27.1 :56.1 and 1:24.4). Jim Marino trains and drives the five-year-old Henry Clay-Lindas Conquest mare, who returned $68.20 for the upset win.

Fraser Downs will close out its meet on Saturday with the fillies headlining the 12-race afternoon program in the $75,000 final of the Penny Bath Memorial (race nine). First race post time is set for 12:45 p.m.

Driver Scott Knight will head into the Fraser finale on the cusp of a milestone win. His upset victory with My Camalina in Race 6 -- paying $99.90 -- placed him at 999 career tallies.

To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs.

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