Outlaw C My Shadow pushed his win streak into double-digit territory with another standout score in the $10,000 Open Handicap Pace at Fraser Downs on an eventful Friday night (April 7).
Despite being ordered outside of his rivals for the fourth straight week, Outlaw C My Shadow quickly took control once again for regular reinsman Brandon Campbell and the popular pacer cruised through fractions of :27.3, :56.1 and 1:23.1 with the field strung out down the backstretch. Turning for home, 2-1 second choice Itll Be Fine (Kelly Hoerdt) was the only one within reach, but Outlaw C My Shadow opened up 4-1/4 lengths on that foe down the stretch and stopped the clock in 1:51.4. Waitin Ona River (Kevin Anderson) was the best of the rest, finishing more than 10 lengths behind.
Outlaw C My Shadow has dominated the Open ranks going eight-for-eight at the current meet after back-to-back victories last year kicked off his winning crusade for trainer and breeder Connie Kolthammer, who co-owns as part of the Outlaw West Stable. The six-year-old Shadow Play-Grand Slam Woman gelding's streak accounts for half of his lifetime wins. He's earned $175,322 from 90 career starts.
Sent off at odds of 2-5 in the six-horse field, Outlaw C My Shadow paid $2.90 to win and $2.10 to place. There was no show wagering.
Prior to the feature, a pair of $8,000 eliminations for the B.C. Bred Stakes for three and four-year-old pacers opened Friday's program, with the favourites coming out on top.
Driven by John Abbott, Shake Shadow N Rol put away pacesetter Rum N Raisins (Scott Knight) down the stretch after following loosely in the pocket through splits of :28, :56.1 and 1:25.1 to score a 1:54.4 elimination victory. Came A Cavalier (Hoerdt) tracked the winner's move on the final turn and chased 1-1/2 lengths behind in second while Oh Shut Up (Campbell) rounded out the top three finish order.
Shake Shadow N Rol, who has won three of his last four starts, paid $3.70 as the 4-5 favourite.
Owned and bred by Jennifer Dodsworth and trainer Randy Rutledge, the four-year-old Shadow Play-Forever Holy gelding improved his seasonal record to 5-2-1 from 10 starts and now has nine career wins with earnings totalling $38,690 from 23 outings.
After following in third through opening panels of :29 and :58.4, Domi and Campbell swept to command near three-quarters in 1:28.1 and quickly opened up a few lengths in the final turn en route to a blowout elim win in 1:56.3. My Little Gingerman (David Hudon) rallied from last to place on the far outside, finishing 5-1/2 lengths behind the winner, while pacesetter Son Of A Beach (Abbott) held on for third in a photo finish with Speakdollarsncents (Hoerdt).
Sent postward as the 1-9 popular pick in pursuit of four wins in a row, Domi returned $2.30 when he completed the task at hand.
Jim Marino trains and co-owns the three-year-old gelded son of Living It Up out of Outlawcherishafool with J J J Stables and Paul Sanders. Domi has finished no worse than third in his six sophomore starts. A career winner of five races from 13 races, he's banked $32,905 to date.
It was a big night for Campbell and Marino, who teamed up to win two more races with three-year-olds Shots Fired ($5.90) and Usual Suspect ($45.80). Campbell completed the nine-race card with five winning drives, capped off with a victory by the Blaine Chappell-trained four-year-old Ponggo ($5.80). Both Campbell and Marino top the standings in their respective categories at the meet.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs.