On the night Aaron Judge matched Roger Maris’s record of 61 homeruns in the regular baseball season, a horse named Mickie Mantle – a player once teammates with Maris – hit a homerun of his own in winning the first of two $15,000 divisions of the Robert Millbank Memorial at Fraser Downs Wednesday night (Sept. 28).
Driver Kelly Hoerdt settled Mickie Mantle in fourth as Domi dashed from the outermost post for the lead to a :27.4 first quarter. Uncontested to a :59.3 half, Domi faced a backside blitz from Son Of A Beach, who had Mickie Mantle poised on his back to three-quarters in 1:28.4. Hoerdt swung three wide with Mickie Mantle and rounded for home a length winner over Domi in 1:57.2. Son Of A Beach finished third and Speakdollarsncents took fourth.
Co-owned by Hoerdt with Fred Gilbert, Mickie Mantle – a colt by Custard The Dragon out of a mare named N Y Yankees – won his first race from four starts and has now earned $15,598. Chris Lancaster trains the $2.60 winner.
Lukes Proclamation took the other split of the Robert Millbank Memorial in 1:57.1. Driver Mike Hennessy circled Lukes Proclamation to the lead after a :27.3 first quarter to pocket Dillon James with a lap to go. He then cruised to a :58.1 half and to three-quarters in 1:28.3 to stroll to the finish a two-length winner over Rilkoff with Dillon James third and Shots Fired fourth.
John Hudon trains Lukes Proclamation for owner Derek Stout. He won his third race from five starts and has now banked $22,625. He paid $6.10 to win.
Custard Or Nothing spurted clear of her competition and coasted to a 1:57.4 win in the lone $20,000 dash of the Betty Millbank Memorial. Trainer-driver Rod Therres took the top with the daughter of Custard The Dragon to a :28.3 first quarter and faced no challenge. By the half in :59, she started to widen her lead to three-quarters in 1:28.2 and extended her advantage more spinning for home before shortening in stride and hitting the finish a length better than favourite Snowpeak. Westcoast Captive took third and Its All Down Hill finished fourth.
Therres co-owns Custard Or Nothing with Blair Miller, Dairen Edwards and Veikko Pajunen. She won her second race from three starts and has now earned $13,520. She paid $19.10 to win.
Armycaptin Hanover swept off cover to take the $10,000 Open Pace later in the card. Trainer-driver Kelly Hoerdt raced fifth with the six-year-old Captaintreacherous gelding while Mach Steady pushed to lead after a :26 first quarter and through a :55.1 half. Tiempo Hanover pulled pocket up the backside to challenge for the lead to three-quarters in 1:23.3 all while Armycaptin Hanover readied from second over for the stretch drive. Hoerdt fired and Armycaptin Hanover kicked by to a 1-1/2-length victory in 1:52.1 over Tiempo Hanover with Buddys Hope third.
Hoerdt trains and co-owns Armycaptin Hanover with Blair Corbeil. He won his 28th race from 97 starts, has now earned $187,301 and paid $2.60 to win.
To view Wednesday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Fraser Downs.