Guest announcer Adam Mauntah was at the mic for the $10,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace Saturday at Fraser Downs and the resident of Ottawa, Ontario gave the play by play as Furious Five wore down pacesetter Luvinajiffy for her second consecutive victory
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Longshot Luvinajiffy (David McKellar) won the battle for the lead and showed the way to the opening quarter in :27.1, half in :55.4 and three-quarters in 1:24.2 while driver Tyler Remillard sent Furious Five first up. The 2-1 third choice got the better of Luvinajiffy at the head of the lane and kicked away by 1-3/4 lengths for the 1:54.1 triumph. Judges Acenthehole (Jim Marino) and favourite Jans Rich Girl (Scott Knight) came on for second and third as Luvinajiffy faded to fourth.
The victory was Furious Five’s fifth in 17 starts this year bumping her earnings to $31,365 for trainer Serge Masse, who was injured in an earlier accident, and owner Jarm Investments Ltd. of Beaumont, AB. Win number 33 for the seven-year-old Faldo Hanover mare boosted her bankroll to $490,502.
Mystic Maiden extended her win streak to six when she stopped the clock in 1:55.3 in her 12th race conditioning assignment. The three-year-old daughter of Camystic is now 13-for-14 lifetime with $47,100 earned for driver David Hudon and trainer Justin Currie. Mystic Maiden is owned by Barry MacFarlane and breeder Crimson Racing Stable of Langley, B.C.
Saturday's program was marred by a pair of accidents in Races 3 and 13. In the evening’s third race, Midnight Diva, who led for most of the mile, broke stride and dropped to the track at the wire.
Midnight Diva was up on her feet and able to walk off the track following the incident while the track ambulance attended to her driver Serge Masse. Early reports indicated a possible leg injury.
Midnight Diva, who finished third, was placed sixth for a lapped on break at the finish.
While racing down the backstretch in the finale, Late Night Larry (James Jungquist) angled out of third but struck the wheel of Tahuya Crusher (Jim Marino) in front causing a chain reaction of interference to the field. Nevermissabeat fell and driver Rene Goulet was tossed to the track as a result of the incident.
Nevermissabeat was on his feet shortly after the accident and was seen walking off the track under his own power while the on-track ambulance attended to Goulet.
Late Night Larry finished third but was disqualified for causing the accident.
Trot Insider will provide more details on the conditions of the horses and drivers involved when they are made available.
To view Saturday’s results, click here.