Lil Dude Starrbuck shattered Fraser Downs’ all-time track record with his 1:50.4 performance in the $12,000 Open Pace Friday night
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Trainer Scott Knight fired the eight-year-old son of Threefold-Almahurst Irish off the gate from Post 3 but former track record holder Kiawah (Ed Hensley) pulled ahead around the first turn and reached the first quarter mark in a flashy :26.3 seconds. Refusing to sit a pocket trip, Lil Dude Starrbuck looped to the lead and carved out the remaining panels of :55.3 and 1:23.1 before powering home in :27.3 for the four and a quarter length triumph. The time of the mile erased Kiawah’s 1:51.2 former record set exactly five months ago.
Favourite Artistically (David McKellar) journeyed first-over to finish second while Kiawah rounded out the top three.
Lil Dude Ranch of Surrey, B.C. owns Lil Dude Starrbuck, a winner of 30 races lifetime and over $490,884 in earnings. The win was the bay’s third (second consecutive) in 18 seasonal starts lifting his winnings to $39,130.
In other action, trainer/driver Serge Masse had another magical evening at the Surrey oval. Minnesota Hanover (1:55.2) won the opener for the local resident, who also scored a natural hat trick beginning in Race 7 with Parker Hall (1:54.4), Red Star Wildcard (1:53.2) and the Gord Abbott-trained Kg Mattattack (1:54).
To view Friday's harness racing results, click here.