Three-year-old pacers were the stars of the show Monday at Fraser Downs as the oval hosted the BC Sale Stakes for colts and geldings in addition to a set of divisions for fillies.
Itll Be Fine went wire-to-wire in the $30,000 lone division for male pacers.
The son of Hes Watching-Modern Hanover whacked out splits of :28.3, 1:00 and 1:28.4 for trainer/driver Rick Lancaster before using a :27.4 final frame to win by a length over Joe Dimagio in 1:56.3. Third prize was earned by So Strange.
Sent off as the 1-5 choice, the gelding improved his overall record to 5-2-0 from just seven trips to the track for partners Lancaster, Ray Soh and Leslie Godlien. He’s banked more than $40,000 to date.
Shoot The Whiskey was highly thought of by the betting public in the first division for the fillies, and she lived up to the hype thanks to her dominant score in 1:54.
Brandon Campbell quarter pole-moved her to the top after Memum Knowsnothing threw down an opening quarter clocked in :26.4. Shoot The Whiskey cleared shortly past that marker and proceeded to wheel the field through splits of :56.1 and 1:25.1. She then stormed home in :28.4 to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Angelsonthehorizon. Kittie Cat took home third prize.
The daughter of Shadow Play-Arm In Arm, who hangs her harness bag in the barn of trainer Jim Marino, is owned by Marino and J J J Stables of Prince George, BC. After going 4-for-8 as a rookie she’s now gone 2-for-2 to kick off her sophomore year. Along the way she’s managed to stash away more than $44,000 in earnings.
Tin Foil Hat went down the road in the other division en route to a facile triumph in 1:56.3 for trainer Kelly Hoerdt.
The daughter of Custard The Dragon-Art Amour whacked out fractions of :27.2, :59.1 and 1:28.2 before using a :28.1 kicker to win by a pair of lengths over Million Reasons. Recovering from an early miscue to finish third was Gotta Wear Shades.
Hoerdt shares ownership on the filly with Blair Corbeil and Fred Gilbert. After managing a 1-for-8 record as a freshman she’s stepped up her game this season by posting a 2-for-2 record for her connections. Her bankroll now stands at $41,175.
Later on the card in the $10,000 Fillies & Mares Open it was Moosette using her come-from-behind skills to post a 1:52.4 triumph in the top class for distaffers.
Brandon Campbell got away last with the favourite while Hottieonthehorizon sped to the early lead and laid down fractions of :25.3, :54.1 and 1:23.2 before she started to fade. Campbell commenced a first-over bid with Moosette on the way to the three-quarter pole, and her :29.1 closing speed was enough to earn her the win by 3-1/2 lengths over Hotpieceoface. Third prize was earned by Western Summit.
Shale Stables of Merritt, BC owns the five-year-old daughter of Hes Watching-Legal Suspensory who improved this year’s record to 4-5-0 from 11 starts with the win. The 16-time winner has banked just shy of $120,000 in her career.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Fraser Downs.