Kiawah blazed his way to a $12,000 Open Pace victory posting a new track record of 1:51.2 at Fraser Downs on Saturday
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The five-year-old son of Western Ideal got away fourth from Post 4 as Lilsharkshooter (Scott Knight) fired off the gate with Stiletto (Serge Masse), who remained parked out in second to the opening quarter in :26.3 before tucking into the three-hole. From there, Kiawah moved first up under the guidance of trainer/driver David Hudon and he advanced on the outside through the half in :56.
Kiawah, the 3-5 choice, reached up for the lead during the third interval and picked up the pace as he secured a two length lead on the field by three-quarters in a swift 1:23. As the field turned for home, Kiawah extended his lead to six and a quarter lengths before tripping the teletimer in a life's-best 1:51.2. The time of the mile also erased the former track record of 1:51.4 held by Areyouinorout, Duca, Rodeo King and Trust The Artist.
Stiletto Hall was the runner-up with El Rancho Relaxo (Keith Clark) finishing third.
Last year's Mr Vancouver winner is co-owned by Bill Boden of Vancouver, B.C. and Monica Hudon of Edmonton, Alta. In four starts this year, Kiawah has recorded three wins and one second at the Open level. The win marked the bay's 13th lifetime score lifting his earnings to $123,043.
A quartet of BC Stallion Stake eliminations for three-year-old pacers were also featured on Saturday night’s program of racing at Fraser and front-end tactics appeared to be the most effective.
The ladies got things started with a pair of $7,000 BC Stallion Stake elims.
In the first and fastest filly elimination, which was carded as a special non-wagering race, With Bells On and driver Keith Clark left from Post 2 and did not look back. She carved out all the fractions without facing any challenges from her four rivals before posting a 1:57.2 victory. I Go Blind (Bill Davis) closed well to finish a length and three-quarters back in second while Run Way Star (David Hudon) picked up third.
The three-year-old Emery Flight filly has compiled a record of 4-4-1 in 11 starts this year with earnings totaling $23,622. Her sixth lifetime score bumped her career earnings to nearly $40,000 for trainer Grant Hollingsworth and owners Fredric Baines of Calgary, Alta., Barbara Baines of North Vancouver and Elizabeth Hollingsworth of Langley, B.C.
With Sugar Mountain scratched lame, Oral Fixation, driven by Jim Marino, only had to beat out three rivals in her elimination and the three-year-old Kents On Nuke lass did just that for trainer Walter Slopianka. Owned and bred by the J J J Stables of Aldergrove, B.C. and Alan Anderson of Willows, California, the 1-2 choice prevailed in 1:58 in wire-to-wire fashion. Moonlite Cinderela (Bill Davis) and Crackers And Surf (Rick White) finished second and third.
In six ’09 starts, Oral Fixation has recorded three wins, one second and one third earning $25,460. Her fourth lifetime score pushed her winnings to over $45,000.
Fresh off his Sandown Plate triumph, Camblazer prevailed in the first $7,100 elimination for colts and geldings for trainer/driver Gerry Hudon. The sophomore son of Camcracker, who was part of the 1-5 favoured entry, equaled his mark of 1:55.2 after circling the Surrey oval. Despite enduring broken equipment, Camblazer was victorious in the six-horse affair finishing one and three-quarter lengths ahead of Red Star Whippet (James Burke). Im The Money (Keith Clark) finished back in third.
Owned and bred by Bill Boden, Camblazer has yet to finish worst than third this year. The win was his third of the season in five tries lifting his earnings to $32,597. The bay’s fourth lifetime win bumped his total earnings over the $50,000 mark.
Stop Calling, the 1-5 favourite, used the same front-end tactics as the other elim winners to take the second split for colts and geldings and maintain his spotless record. The three-year-old Kents On Nukes gelding prevailed by three lengths in 1:55.3 with Kevin Anderson in the bike for trainer Debra McCarthy. Garden Gate Ll (Gord Abbott) journeyed first-over to finish second with Seven Seas Cruisin (Barry Treen) rounding out the top three.
The time of the mile was a new mark for the winner of three races and $7,950 in purses. Stop Calling provided the J J J Stables and Alan Anderson with another victory on the card. Mark Anderson of Willows, California also shares ownership of the bay.
To view Saturday’s results, click here.