Veteran pacer Prime Time Bliss was challenged every step of the way, but persevered to earn his 50th career win in Friday night's finale at Fraser Downs.
Driver Jim Marino sent the 11-year-old son of Blissfull Hall to the lead from post five in the $3,000 claiming race and carved out early fractions of :27 and :56 with Midnight Destroyer (John Abbott) parked and pressing. As Prime Time Bliss rebuffed that rival and led the way down the backstretch, favourite Ronnie Rickles (David McKellar) moved underway from mid-pack and swept three-wide to engage in a head-to-head battle with the pacesetter past the 1:25 third quarter mark. But Prime Time Bliss fought back as he entered the homestretch and held off the late-closing NF Star Power (Serge Masses), another son of Blissfull Hall, to win in 1:55.3 by a neck. Ronnie Rickles finished one and a half lengths behind in third.
Prime Time Bliss paid $13.90 to win. The victory was his fourth and fastest this year in 11 starts for trainer Terry Burstyk and owner Deborah Burstyk of Surrey, B.C.
Lifetime, the 50-time winner has banked $292,121 in purses.
Meanwhile, Stiletto Hall, another 11-year-old son of Blissfull Hall, is on the verge of reaching the 50-win milestone mark himeself. He finished fourth, missing by one and three-quarter lengths, in an earlier $6,000 claiming race for trainer Shelly Arsenault and the Don M Jr. Stables of Edmonton, Alta.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs.