If Rod Therres keeps winning races at this pace, he'll be celebrating his 2,000th training win before we know it.
But for now, Therres can enjoy hitting the 1,000 win milestone as a Standardbred conditioner. He achieved the feat in the first race on Thursday, Sept. 19 at Fraser Downs, guiding Heavens Lil Dragon (1:59; $4.90) to victory in the lidlifter. The roan filly is now two-for-two for Therres, who co-owns the Custard The Dragon - Bin N heaven lass with Ralph Therres of Surrey, KFC Farms Ltd. of Abbotsford and Dairen Edwards of Langley, B.C.
Therres has been a fixture in Western Canada's harness racing industry since the late 1980s, racking up more than 1,000 wins both as a trainer and driver. Horses campaigned by the Langley, B.C. resident include stakes winners Primary Purpose, Royal Morn, Probert, Rockin Mystery and Village Janus.
The 2024 meet at Fraser Downs has started off as the Rod Therres Show, as the trainer's midas touch gave him victories in all eight of the races he entered since last Thursday. Only one horse lost: Nothing Bugs Me, who finished second to his Therres stablemate Buddyville.
This Thursday was more of the same, although the win streak did stop at 10 straight races. After Heavens Lil Dragon captured the opener, Therres returned to the winner's circle with Fubar Bundy (1:56.4; $2.10) in the second half of the early daily double. The run ended in the sixth when Martini Please couldn't handle her step up in class and finished fourth.
However, the next streak for Therres started in the finale courtesy Rollin Withholly A (1:54.4; $2.70) to give Therres a training triple on this momentous evening. For those keeping score at home, that's an incredible 11 wins and a second in 13 starts to kick off the Fraser Fall-Winter meet.
Grey Sea ($2.10) also kept her momentum going, repeating her opening week success in the $10,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred with another top class tally. John Abbott guided the eye-catching speedster to a gate-to-wire score in 1:53.2, holding off pocket-sitting B On The Hunt (Scott Knight) and Arrhythmic Dream (Phil Giesbrecht) by a half-length in a season's best1:53.2.
Gord Abott trains 19-time winner Grey Sea (Custard The Dragon - Preference) for breeder-owner Seaspray Stables Ltd. of Nanaimo, B.C. The mare's earnings surpassed the $150,000 mark with the victory.
For the results from Thursday's card of harness racing in British Columbia, click the following link: Thursday Results - Fraser Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)