Fraser Downs’ 2009 meet finally kicked off tonight with a pair of $9,375 Keith Linton Memorial eliminations for four-year-old pacers
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Bohemian Bliss used a blissful pocket trip to take the first elim for trainer Ann Cooper and owner Brent Harrison of Surrey, B.C.
Bill Davis settled the Blissful Hall bay in behind the favoured Lil Rock N Rustler (Scott Knight), who posted the opening panel in :28. After a :58.3 half, Davis popped the pocket and advanced through a 1:28 third quarter. The 2-1 second choice took the lead in the stretch and coasted through the fog to the wire in a clocking of 1:57.2.
Taylor Special (John Hudon) finished five lengths back in second while the pacesetter finished third.
Bohemian Bliss, a winner of six races, has earned just under $35,000 in his career.
In the second elimination, the Camluck gelding Custom Crafted set out for the lead and in doing so customized his own winning trip with Darren Howald in tow.
After carving out fractions of :28.4, :59.3 and 1:30.1, the fan favourite held off the first-over challenger, Millbanks Viking (Billy Davis, Jr.), for the win in 1:59.4 by three-quarters of a length. Killarny Boy (Gord Abbott) finished third.
Custom Crafted’s third career win bumped his earnings to over $20,000 for trainer Raymond Gemmill and the Western Pacific Stable of Surrey, B.C.
In other action, trainer David McKellar had a good start to the year earning three wins on the 12-race card.
McKellar prevailed in Race 6 with Desperate Measures (1:54), unaffected by a one-horse incident. At the half, the five-year-old gelding Pacing Artist made a break and fell. Driver Bill Davis was unseated in the accident, but appeared to escape serious injury and did complete his remaining drives. Reports have confirmed that both horse and driver are okay.
Three Doors Down (1:58.3) was the winner of Race 10 and Western Nitro (1:55.1) scored in Race 11 for McKellar.
McKellar sports a training record including 185 wins. The resident of Surrey, B.C. is nearing the $1 million dollar mark in lifetime earnings thanks in large part to his career best season last year.
To view Friday’s results, click here.