Fraser Downs opened the curtain on its 29-date fall meeting on Wednesday night (Sept. 22), and Terri Kaufman's Big Boy Hill ($16.20) scorched a 1:54.1 mile over the suburban Vancouver raceway in the featured event.
The evening's top pace, an optional claiming event with an $8,000 purse, saw Big Boy Hill and trainer-driver Rod Therres sprint to a clear lead from post 7 and evade their eight foes throughout the entire one-mile journey. After rating a :57.2 first half, the four-year-old Bettors Delight gelding evaded a stout first-over challenge from lukewarm 5-2 favourite Chazmichaemichael (David Hudon) up the backstretch before using a :28 final quarter to keep pocket rival Mach Steady (Brandon Campbell) 1-1/2 lengths at bay. Bad Moon Horizon (Scott Knight) was a ground-saving third.
Big Boy Hill, who has raced exclusively in British Columbia since November of his rookie season, has won eight of his 24 career starts to date and has earned just over $40,000.
Driver Brandon Campbell swept the sub-features on the 11-race card, teaming up with Jim Marino trainee If Only Id Known ($2.90, 1:56) and Richard Lancaster pupil Like A Shadow ($5.50, 1:54.2) in their respective $7,000 conditioned paces.
Following another isolated Wednesday card next week (Sept. 29), Fraser Downs will offer racing on Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. Pacific for the balance of the year, as well as a 1 p.m. Boxing Day (Sunday, Dec. 26) card and 1 p.m. B.C. Breeders Stakes program (Thursday, Nov. 11).
To view Wednesday's complete results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Fraser Downs.