Joe Rich ($7.90) became the only two-time winner in this year's Robert Millbank Memorial Series, for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings, by way of a sharp 1:55.2 score in the first of two $15,000 second-round divisions of the event on Wednesday (Oct. 27) at Fraser Downs.
Joe Rich, who completed a stakes double for driver Brandon Campbell and trainer Jim Marino, enjoyed the catbird seat while pacesetter Jimmyachance absorbed pressure from the first-over Ladner Lad through middle splits of :57.4 and 1:26.4. Although 9-5 choice Ladner Lad ultimately outlasted Jimmyachance in their extended duel, Joe Rich had the freshest legs of any, urged to lift up the open stretch and win by a widening length. Ladner Lad held second over Jimmyachance.
Marino co-owns Joe Rich, a Custard The Dragon-Cant Stop Rockin colt with three wins in six career starts, with the J J J Stables and Paul Sanders.
After missing round one, Lets Tie One On ($4.20) captured the other Robert Millbank division, sustaining his first-over attack on A Dudes Promise and withstanding a late threat to win in 1:59.3. The son of Vertical Horizon and Just One More advanced steadily out of third as A Dudes Promise pulled the half back to 1:01.3, and then steadily ground forward to collar that rival in mid-stretch and keep the three-wide Sammy Santana a half length at bay for the third win of his career. Trainer-driver Kelly Hoerdt shares ownership with Derek Gilbert and Chris Lancaster.
Memum Knowsnothing ($3.10) turned a significant corner when co-owner Rick White took over her training earlier in the month, most recently recording a 1:57 win to secure top honours in the second round of the Betty Millbank Memorial Series, for two-year-old pacing fillies.
Glenn White protected inside position with the daughter of Custard The Dragon and You Know Nothing, rating her through a leisurely :59.1 half mile before facing pressure up the backstretch from 12-1 outsider Shes Bodacious. Memum Knowsnothing sprinted off from her first-over threat through the home turn and evaded a stand-side rally from runner-up Tin Foil Hat to win the first of three $15,000 Betty Millbank splits by 1-3/4 lengths. Shes Bodacious faded to third.
In five career starts, Memum Knowsnothing has won twice and finished second once — all under the care of Rick White, who shares ownership with Janet White and Wayne Foster.
The second division saw Shoot The Whiskey ($2.10) become a two-time winner in Millbank preliminary action, using a stout late turn of foot to engulf 12-1 pacesetter Hottieattheplate by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:58.2. Campbell angled the Shadow Play-Arm In Arm filly off the pegs from fourth in the six-filly field up the backstretch, and she found her best strides off the corner for home to score the third win of her career for trainer Marino, who shares ownership with the J J J Stables.
Hazels Wildling ($2.90) also improved to two-for-two in series action, wiring her three foes in 1:59.4. Tyler Redwood drove the Daylon Boy-Hinds Feet Hazel filly to her third consecutive victory, repelling pocket foe Dragon Tale by a half length on behalf of new trainer Darren Callaghan and owner Diana Mills.
To view Wednesday's complete results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Fraser Downs.