WRDC Pick 9 Challenge

The Pick 9 Online Handicapping Challenge for this Saturday’s Western Regional Driving Championship is now open.

Your task is to handicap the field of nine drivers in order of their official finishing position in the Driving Championship, from first through ninth for the WRDC. Drivers receive points based on their official finish position in each WRDC race. The two drivers with the most points will advance to the National Driving Championship. (contest is now closed for entries)

Post time for Saturday’s card of racing is 12:45 p.m. The WRDC races are: 3 - 11. To view Saturday’s entries, click on one of the following links:
Fraser Downs -- Saturday Entries - Saturday Program Pages

The person who correctly selects the order of finish will win a fantastic prize pack which will include a $50 gift card to the racetrack of their choice, $50 in Fan Club swag, and an autographed photo of the winning driver of the Championship. You must be a Fan Club member to enter.

We’ve called upon a few handicapping experts to offer their opinions and insights on the Championship card.

Garnet Barnsdale, Freelance Harness Racing Writer and Handicapper for HarnessRacingAmerica.com

Perusing the past performances for this opening leg of the driving championships it appears the field is fairly evenly-matched. That being said, here’s how I rank each driver’s chances of taking down the top prize:

Gerry Hudon– this teamster has several live drives, many of whom have good speed off the gate which is advantageous at the Fraser Oval. Look for Hudon to come on strong late in the card with sharp horses in races 8 through 11. Class-dropper Midnight Destroyer, who drew the rail in the 8th and last-out winner D On Sanders in the 11th look like strong chances.

Jim Marino– Perrenial Fraser Downs leading driver also has some good chances and figures to get aggressive early in the mile with One Tough Pull in the 4th, Getmethruthenite in the 5th and Pureform Athena in the 6th. Don’t be shocked if he pulls off wins out of the pocket with a couple of those.

Bill Davis– This pilot is SO dominant at the Cloverdale, B.C. oval – currently winning at a lofty 28% clip - that it was tough for me to rank him this low, however, based on the form of some of his stock on this night he has his work cut out for him. Davis looks like he could jump out to the early lead driving Alley Scat in the 3rd and On The Way Home in the 4th both from inside posts, but it could be tough sledding from there on.

Travis Cullen– last year’s ‘O Brien Award Rising Star winner's youth and aggression will serve him well in this competition and he seems to have quite a few live drives. Don’t be surprised if he doesn’t better this rating. Cullen’s best chances to greet the photographer appear to be Pureform Venus in the 4th, Tres Bien in the 5th and HF Thanks Will in the 7th.

Scott Knight– This local stalwart managed to draw in from the Also Eligible list when race Secretary Darren Callaghan was able to put together full nine-horse fields for the all nine dashes. Knight comes in with a puncher’s chance with recent winner Promising Girl in the 4th one of his better chances to return to the winner’s circle.

Brandon Campbell– This reinsman’s best chances to hit paydirt appear to be with KG Mattatack in the 7th and Steal The Diamonds in the 8th. He is another that could better this rating with a bit of racing luck.

John Chappell– Saddled with a few outer posts, Chappell may have his work cut out. That being said, he is driving some sharp live looking horses such as Te Anau in the 4th and Lifes Tricks in the 7th. Chappell’s chances may rest on him picking up some decent checks with some that are burdened with outer posts.

Don Howlett– This driver has a couple of good shots to win late in the day with Ronnie Woo Woo in the 7th and Outlaw Wishflthinkn in the 9th. If he’s in contention at that point, he might parlay a winning drive with on from that duo into a good placing.

Richard Remillard– I guess someone has to be picked in this spot, but again, don’t be surprised if Remillard does much better than this prediction. His drives in races 7 through 11 all looks as though they’re in with a chance and he too could make some noise late.

All in all it seems to be a very evenly-matched competition and should be a fantastic day of racing!

Dan Jukich, Track Announcer and Simulcast Director at Fraser Downs Racetrack & Casino

The 2014 Western Canada Driving Championship should be a lively affair. The four Fraser Downs drivers will hold local knowledge of the track but will that be enough. I would love to be a "homer" but realistically here's how I see the final standings.

Gerry Hudon - Appears to be driving some live horses during the nine races and the classy veteran could be one of two to head off to the Nationals. He has driven in the past at Fraser Downs. The Pick.

Travis Cullen - This O'Brien award winning driver has had a super season at Northlands. Although I have him winning just one race he has other pacers that should hit the top three throughout the afternoon.

Jim Marino- The leading dash driver at Fraser Downs, Jim would like nothing better than to head back east for the finals. Might be a tough task though.

Bill Davis -The veteran horseman has made a successful return to the track he dominated for many years. Realistically though I only see him winning one on the day.

Brandon Campbell - I could see Brandon doing well with a little bit of luck. Was a very talented driver when he competed at Fraser Downs.

John Chappell - He could improve this placing with a strong start. Another who has had a very good 2013-14 season at his home track

Richard Remillard - I think he has a good chance to win one or two of the nine races on the afternoon but you will need more than that to advance to the east.

Don Howlett - It could prove a daunting task for Don. A bit of luck will have to come into play.

Scott Knight - A very capable driver, Scott will have to bring all of his talents to the track to move on. However they don't call him the "King of the Longshots" for nothing.

Matt Jukich, Assistant Live Racing Manager/Track Announcer at Northlands Park

Gerry Hudon - It looks like it could be Gerry’s year atop of the Western Canadian Driver Challenge as he has drawn well with a number of horses who are in with big shots. He looks like he could be quiet in the first few races before being paired with a number of live ones late in the card. MIDNIGHT DESTROYER drew the rail in the 8th and THE CRACKEN looks to have a good shot in the 11th as well.

Brandon Campbell - JBC will be trying to kick off the challenge in style as he pairs with HOKIE SPIRIT in the 3rd. How about the post relief that STEVE O gets the 5th. He dropped down to this level in his last, but was saddled with an outside draw and was never able to find a good spot during the race. A new pilot shouldn’t bother him as Campbell will be his fifth driver in as many races. In the 7th he has the lines for KG MATTATTACK who has 37 wins and almost $300k to his credit.

Jim Marino - Marino will be trying to use some home field advantage to hold off the Alberta invasion who all seem to have plenty of chances to win. ONE TOUGH PULL in the 4th looks to be his first shot to get on the scoreboard.

Travis Cullen - It doesn’t appear that 2013 O’Brien Rising Star Award winner Travis Cullen has a big standout horse, but plenty of consistent ones who are able to grab slices, and that will be very important in this competition. For his best chance to win a race, have a look at MILLBANKS PIPER in race 4.

John Chappell - Chappell may be paired with one of the better bets on the card, COMES HOME FIRST, in race 10. ‘First has missed the exactor just once in his nine race career, and will be making his debut as a three year old.

Scott Knight - late pacing RED STAR BREA in race 6 will try and get Knight up at the wire at what should be a healthy price. She always finishes her races with plenty of interest and could see a decent pace develop in front of her.

Richard Remillard - Remillard may have to wait until the last race of this competition to score, but it does look like SAY AGAIN has a big shot in race 11. He is plenty quick early and could be long gone having drawn next to the pylons.

Don Howlett - looks like his best chances to get some points will come in back to back events, races 9 and 10. OUTLAWISHFULTHINKN rides a two race win streak into this affair and has been the betting choice in his last three. He partners with PEDAL STEEL in the 10th, and he seems to do his best work when he is involved right from the get go.

Bill Davis - Bill is going to have to try and score some points in the early going as it looks like he didn’t have a whole lot of luck drawing horses. It could be a slim day for Davis, with his best shot to win coming in the 3rd pacing from the second tier with ALLEY SCAT.