Breeders Stakes Continue At Fraser

Published: October 8, 2016 02:10 am EDT

The B.C. Breeders Stakes continued on Friday (October 7) at Fraser Downs with the red-hot Jim Marino winning the evening's first division aboard the debuting two-year-old Bakardi Gold.

The freshman colts were featured in a pair of $20,000 first leg divisions of the Robert Millbank Memorial Breeders Stakes with Millbanks Bart winning the second split.

Fresh off his five-win opening night performance on Thursday, Marino sent Bakardi Gold ($2.50) to the lead from post three and set fractions of :27.3, :58.3 and 1:28.1 on the way to a 1:56.1 victory. Marino drives, trains and co-owns the Badlands Hanover-Artfromtheheart colt with the J J J Stables. Mach Steady (Serge Masse) followed nearly two lengths behind in second off a two-hole trip while Chasing The Girls (Dennis Johnston) rounded out the top three finishers 10 lengths behind. The win was one of three on the 12-race card for Marino.

Rod Therres also won three races on Friday, including the second Millbank division with first-time starter Millbanks Bart ($2.70). The Sportswriter-G Vs Cam Can colt looped early leader Beer O Clock (Dennis Johnston) after a :28.3 first quarter and carved out middle panels of :59.3 and 1:29.3 en route to the one and a half length victory in 1:59.1. Beer O Clock charged out of the pocket heading into the stretch, but had to settle for second while Highland Big Brown (Allan Molloy) finished 16 lengths back in third. Therres trains, drives and co-owns the winner with Blair Miller of Langley, B.C.

The J J J Stables enjoyed a stakes double with No Guarantees ($2.60) prevailing in her $15,000 division of the Mary Murphy Memorial Breeders Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies. Trained by Debra McCarthy and driven by Paul Davies, No Guarantees circled around outside leaver Yesyoucanhos (Travis Bowman) after a 28-second first quarter and led the field past the half in :59.3 and three-quarters in 1:29.3 before sealing the deal with a :28.3 final kicker. The 1:58.1 victory was the second win in five sophomore starts for the Shadow Play-Michelles Fury filly, who was the Betty Millbanks runner-up last year to Mach And Roll Baby. Yesyoucanhos closed through the passing lane but only made it within one length of the winner while Bulletsaflyin (James Burke) finished six lengths back in third.

The second Murphy division was won by Jet To The Beach ($2.20) in wire-to-wire fashion for driver and trainer Glenn White, who also shares ownership with Mike Morrison. The Jeremes Jet-Midnight Jenny filly left from post two and controlled the field through fractions of :28.3, :58.1 and 1:26.2 while building up a six-length lead then cruising home to score in 1:55.2, equalling her lifetime mark. Mysterious Lady (Dennis Johnston) closed for well for second-place over pocket-sitter Wendy Jay (David Hudon). A one-time winner as a freshman, Jet To The Beach is now five-for-six to start her sophomore campaign, including a victory this past spring in the Marian Young Memorial.

In regular racing action, Marino completed a sweep of the first Open events of the meet, with another victory on the Friday program for the J J J Stables. After winning the top mares class with Jabas Luck on Thursday, Marino sent newcomer Pillage And Burn ($5.90) down the road to win the $10,500 Open in 1:55 flat. Illwinifican (Dennis Johnston) came through to finish less than a length behind in second and Now Playing (Serge Masses) rallied wide to grab third.

Live harness racing resumes next Thursday, Oct. 13 at Fraser Downs.

To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs.

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