Side Piece took home a big piece in the third leg of the Mary Murphy B.C. Breeders Stakes for sophomore pacing fillies on Friday, Nov. 16 at Fraser Downs. The win in her $20,000 division was her fifth triumph in a row.
Brandon Campbell and the Jim Marino student took the pocket ride to the quarter in :27.2 before swooping around to the top. Side Piece clicked out two more panels in :57.2 and 1:26.2 before she romped home to a four-length victory in 1:55.1. Red N Ready (Phil Giesbrecht) finished second and Heart Of A Dragon (David Hudon) completed the ticket.
Breeder J J J Stables co-owns the daughter of Shadow Play-Queen Otra with Marino. From nine starts this season, Side Piece has a record of 8-1-0. She earned her 12th career victory in 15 starts with $239,692 banked. As the heavily backed favourite, she returned $2.10 to win.
Rum N Raisins followed up in a $15,000 third leg division of Robert Murphy Memorial B.C. Breeders Stakes with a gate-to-wire triumph over the field of sophomore colts and geldings.
John Abbott and the Richard Lancaster trainee left from the rail and never looked back as they breezed through panels in :27.4, :56.2 and 1:24.1. Rum N Raisins kept on going all the way to a 2-1/4-length victory at the wire in 1:53.4. Lukes Proclamation (Giesbrecht) finished second and Domi (Campbell) took third.
Rum N Raisins (Custard The Dragon-Fie Foe Fire) is owned by Wild Dunes Stables and recorded his sixth seasonal in 26 starts after going winless in seven races as a rookie. He moved his career earnings to $52,398. As the bettors' choice, he paid $3.90 to win.
After Kelly Hoerdt sent out trainees Beach Myst (1:56.2, $6.50) and Jamaica Move (1:57, $5.30), both driven by Scott Knight, as victors, he collected his training hat trick for the evening with a win by Micke Mantle in the evening finale. Worth $15,000, the nightcap was the second division of the Robert Murphy Memorial Breeders Stakes.
David Hudon and Mickie Mantle were parked through the opening panel in :28.4 before clearing to the front. The pair clicked out the half in :58.1 before feeling pressure from a first-over Usual Suspect (Campbell). Unrelenting, Mickie Mantle hit the three-quarters in 1:26.2 before going on to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:55. Speakdollarsncents (Jeffrey Hunt) was second with Chief Is Boss (Dennis Johnston) third.
Mickie Mantle is co-owned by trainer Hoerdt and Fred Gilbert. The son of Custard The Dragon-N Y Yankees, now five-for-14 this year, earned his 10th career victory and now has $184,998 in career earnings. He returned $2.20 to win.
Hang On Sloopy won the $10,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred Handicap with Jeffrey Hunt in the bike for trainer Reginald Wonnenberg. Making every pole a winning one through panels in :28, :57.3 and 1:25.4, Hang On Sloopy won by 2-1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:54.4. Pirate Booty (Terry Kaufman) took second with Grey Sea (John Abbott) third.
Hang On Sloopy (Betterthancheddar-Luvinajiffy) is owned by Wonnenberg in partnership with Gail Brassington. She earned her 11th career tally to go along with $110,277 in career earnings. The final mile time was a career-best time for the five-year-old mare. She paid $12.40 to win.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Fraser Downs.
Side Piece
There was, understandably, no show wagering permitted in Side Piece's race, but 12% of the entire night's handle was wagered on her to place!