Classy Character made it four straight went he went wire-to-wire to take the second of two $25,000 Clash Of The Pacific second leg splits on Friday at Fraser Downs.
Starting from Post 3, driver Tim Brown hustled Classy Character to the point of command in :27.1 and they set a half in :56.3 as Stonebridge Camelot (Billy Davis Jr.) challenged first-over. The six-year-old Shady Character gelding held a half-length margin at the 1:23.4 three-quarters, but that is when Brown put him in another gear.
Classy Character began to separate himself from his seven rivals around the final turn and he opened up to two lengths at the wire, stopping the clock in a career best 1:52. Double L Trump (Gord Abbott) was second and Reserve Forces (Dave McKellar) rounded out the top three.
Amber Lancaster trains Classy Character for partners Sandra Brown and Jack Thompson. In 17 starts this season, the gelding his put together an impressive resume of 12-2-1 and earnings of $91,085. It was his 21st lifetime victory and pushed his bankroll to $222,583.
The 2007 Clash winner, Grand Bend Turbo, returned to the winner’s circle in the first division. With trainer Dave Hudon at the controls, the six-year-old Camluck stud sat a chilly two-hole, tracking Trust The Artist (Scott Knight) through stanzas of :27.1, :55.2 and 1:23.4.
Grand Bend Turbo vacated the pocket turning for home and paced to a length and a quarter score in 1:52.3. Father Knows Best (Jim Marino) was second best and Rodeo King (Gord Abbott), who is also trained by Hudon, finished third.
Jim Ainsworth, Bill Boden and Reg Gassien co-own Grand Bend Turbo, who has six wins from 25 starts this year. In his career, the pacer has 32 career victories and boasts earnings of $772,871.
The $100,000 Clash Of The Pacific Final is next Friday.
Trainer Bill Davis recorded a hat-trick. He was victorious with Shamardal (1:53.3), Up Front Palone (1:54.3) and Beggars Opera (1:55) to give him 104 victories on the season.
To view Fraser’s results, click here.