The talent pool was deep Thursday evening at Fraser Downs as the oval hosted eliminations of the Jim Vinnell Memorial and divisions of the Robert Murphy Memorial and the Mary Murphy.
Dontpokethedragon went to the top and didn’t look back in the first of two $10,000 eliminations for the Jim Vinnell Memorial.
Brandon Campbell knifed out splits of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:25 with the four-year-old son of Custard The Dragon-Rummys Command before kicking home in :28.1 to win by 2-3/4 lengths over Gray Zee in 1:53.1. Third prize went to Big Boy Hill.
Trainer Jim Marino co-owns the gelding with Paul Sanders and J J J Stables. The victory was his 11th of the season and the 16th of his career. The $5,000 payday bumped his overall earnings to $154,130.
Icy Blue Scooter also wired up the foes he sparred with in the second elimination.
The eight-year-old son of Blue Burner-Jills Sooter powered to the top from Post 2 and after supplying fractions of :26.4, :55 and 1:23.1 he then kicked home in :28.1 to win by 3-1/2 lengths over Tiempo Hanover in 1:51.2. Taking home the show dough was Outlaw C My Shadow.
Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, Icy Blue Scooter nabbed the win for trainer/driver Nathan Sobey who co-owns the classy campaigner with Diane Bertrand and Robert Gilhespy. He’s now 7-for-16 this season for Sobey and partners Diane Bertrand and Robert Gilhespy.
Kootenay Santanna also used the front-end approach to take home top honour in the first division of the third leg of the Robert Murphy Memorial.
Rod Therres put the pedal to the metal with the Kyle Chadwick trainee, who hustled through fractions of :27.4, :57 and 1:25.4 before sprinting home in :28.3 to win by 5-1/4 lengths over Hapuna Beach in 1:54.2. Taking home third prize was Loaded Dragon.
Robert Chadwick of Surrey, BC bred and owns the three-year-old son of Santanna Blue Chip-Kootenay Mystic who went 3-for-5 last season and now has a 4-for-8 record so far in 2021. The six-time winner, who is riding a four-race winning streak, has earned over $80,000 to date.
Like A Shadow survived some shaky moments in the lane and went on to post a 1:55.1 triumph in the opening division of the third leg of the series.
Brandon Campbell pointed the gelding to the lead from Post 3 and together they hung up fractions of :27.4, :57.3 and 1:26.2. In the midst of pacing a final quarter in :28.4 he made a brief break in stride. He wound up regaining his composure and wound up nabbing the win by a half-length margin over San The Cat in 1:55.1. Ynotthishos claimed the show dough.
The Richard Lancaster trainee, who went 1-for-14 to start the year, has now reeled off six consecutive wins for RT Enterprises and Wild Dunes Stable The eight-time winner pushed his career earnings over $70,000 with the win.
Da Magic Coco rallied to a handy win in the first division of the third leg of the Mary Murphy.
Trainer/driver David Hudon tucked his charge into an easy three-hole watched Custard Smoothie throw down fractions of :27.1, :57.2 and 1:25.4. Da Magic Coco found late clearance and fired home in :28.2 to win by 2-3/4 lengths over Hang On Sloopy, with race favourite Custard Smoothie fading let and settling for third.
Da Magic Coco, who was sent off at odds of 6-1, scored the win for owner Jane Wiggins of Surrey, BC. It was the second win of the season for the six-time winner who has earnings just of $30,000 stashed away.
Exotic Dragon quarter pole-moved to the top and drew away from her foes in a time of 1:55 for driver Nathan Sobey. The Gord Abbott trainee took the lead going to the half and once she cleared she was on the hook for earnings to :58.2 and 1:26.3. A :28.2 closing quarter sealed the deal for the daughter of Custard The Dragon-Accentuate. She defeated If Only Id Known and Crush Me.
Sent off as the 1-5 choice, the daughter of Custard The Dragon-Accentuate won for just the second time this season from 13 assignments, but she’s a five-time winner to date for owner Robert Jones of Slave Lake, AB. The filly has assembled an 8-6-1 record from 16 starts this season. Her latest win pushed her bankroll well over $110,000.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Fraser Downs.