Jim Marino trainee Shoot The Whiskey took over control past the quarter and cruised to a 1:54.2 victory in the first of two $10,000 eliminations for the Penny Bath Memorial on Sunday (May 1) at Fraser Downs.
Driver Brandon Campbell settled for the pocket from the pylon post as Angelsonthehorizon led the field to the quarter in :28.1. Campbell then kicked off the pegs and grabbed command with Shoot The Whiskey coming to the final circuit and led the field to the half in :57.3. Memum Knowsnothing pulled off the pylons into the backside to blitz Shoot The Whiskey and ranged to match strides with the pacesetter to three-quarters in 1:26. Shoot The Whiskey, with the inside advantage, slid to a wider lead coming off the corner and scooted clear of her competition to the finish to win by 2-1/4 lengths. Kittie Cat rallied from off cover to snag second from Memum Knowsnothing while Ventimachalatte gave chase in fourth.
Co-owned by Marino with J J J Stables, Shoot The Whiskey remains unbeaten from three starts this season while winning her seventh from 11 overall. The three-year-old Shadow Play filly has earned $49,300 and paid $2.60 to win.
Shes Bodacious popped off a pocket trip to win the second Bath elimination in 1:58.1. With odds-on favourite Tin Foil Hat breaking at the start, Million Reasons gained the lead and led to the quarter in :28.3. No challengers came to call on the pacesetter, who stole a breather to a 1:00.3 half and continued into the backstretch unfettered while striding to three-quarters in 1:29.4. Shes Bodacious stayed on the leader's helmet until the top of the stretch, where driver Dave Kelly fired the sophomore Custard The Dragon filly for the front and edged by to a length victory over Million Reasons. Gotta Wear Shades closed to finish third with River Boat Rosie riding the pylons for fourth.
Owned and trained by Ashley Ederer, Shes Bodacious won her first race from seven starts this season and her second from 16 overall. She has earned $28,117 and paid $19 to win.
In the afternoon's feature event, the $12,000 Horses & Geldings Open Pace, Dave Kelly cleared command with Kootenay Santanna and never looked back to post a 1:52.1 score. The four-year-old Santanna Blue Chip gelding flashed a :26.1 first quarter to grab the lead before settling into a :56.2 half and revving up the backside to three-quarters in 1:24.1 as Mach Steady moved to push first over. Kootenay Santanna came off the turn with a three-length advantage that diminished to a 1-3/4-length victory over Armycaptin Hanover, who rallied from second over. I Ama Rocket rode the pocket to finish third and Mach Steady settled for fourth.
Trained by Kyle Chadwick for owner-breeder Robert Chadwick, Kootenay Santanna won his fifth race from eight starts this season and his 12th from 24 overall. He has earned $140,100 and paid $3.60 to win.
Kelly Hoerdt recorded a training hat trick on the card. He collected victories with Joe Dimagio ($9.50) in the opener, So Strange ($2.50) a few races later and his last on the day with Mach Silver ($5.90).
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Fraser Downs.