Jodi Loftus' Chase The Ace ($12.50) made her five-year-old debut a winning one, blitzing past fives-on favourite Cusdmagicdragon at the top of the stretch en route to a decisive 1:55.4 score in Wednesday's (April 7) $12,000 Fillies and Mares Open at Fraser Downs.
Trainer-driver Brandon Campbell floated Chase The Ace into third from her outside post to stalk Cusdmagicdragon (Kelly Hoerdt) and Rockin Mystery (Rod Therres) through soft early fractions of :29.3 and :58.3 over sloppy going before mounting a first-over bid with under three-eighths of the one-mile race remaining. As Cusdmagicdragon neared three-quarters in 1:27.1, Chase The Ace ranged up to her flank and seized the lead off the final turn. Once the daughter of Manitoba sire Armbro Baylor straightened for home, she sprinted clear by 4-1/2 lengths. Rockin Mystery narrowly claimed second over the defeated Cusdmagicdragon.
After winning eight of 23 races last season, Chase The Ace extended her career record to 14 wins and $76,366 in earnings with her successful seasonal debut.
The feature win kicked off a training and driving hat trick for Campbell, who also won with Tiempo Hanover ($8.10, 1:53.4) and Machabyebaby ($2.40, 1:56). Top honours on the 11-race card, however, went to Kelly Hoerdt, who trained and drove five winners, including Chazmichaelmichael ($4.60), who rallied from the pocket for a 1:56.4 win in an $8,000 pacing sub-feature.
To view Wednesday's complete results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Fraser Downs.