In High Cotton headlined the Fraser Downs Thursday evening (May 4) card after winning the $10,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap in a career-best time of 1:51.4, tying the aged mare record originally set by Cays Blessing.
David Hudon and In High Cotton drew the outside in the field of five. The pair started to ease off the gate at the start, but grinded down to earn a place in a top seat. At the opening panel in :26.3, favoured Century Mach was able to settle down comfortably on the rail as In High Cotton was still on the outside. The Kelly Hoerdt trainee kept on rolling to take the lead before the half in :55.1. As they took over, In High Cotton and Hudon distanced themselves from the field, giving a 1-1/2 length cushion as they passed the three-quarters in 1:23.1. Down the stretch, In High Cotton faced challengers on each side of her, but the mare was able to battle back and win by 1-1/4 lengths. Miss Itunes (Brandon Campbell) was second and Century Mach (Scott Knight) finished third.
Trainer Kelly Hoerdt co-owns In High Cotton with Blair and Erna Corbeil. The five-year-old mare is a daughter of Somebeachsomewhere and the Western Hanover mare Olivette Hanover. She has posted a record of 5-3-2 in 13 starts this season. With a lengthy history in the top class every week, the mare has had 14 wins to go along with 15 seconds and 15 thirds in 70 career starts, totalling $162,667 in lifetime earnings.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Fraser Downs.