It’s fast times at
Sandown Park.
However, it’s not
rebellious high school students leading the way but young
– OK and some older – horses taking advantage of a new
track surface and ideal weather conditions.
Last weekend, the
second at the present Sandown harness racing meet, the
track record was not broken but it shuddered twice. Over
the two days nine horses registered new lifetime marks and
two others equaled their previous best.
Leading the way
time-wise was Robert Murphy’s Mortified. Making his first
start in B.C. after being claimed in Alberta from Keith
Clark on May 10, the five-year-old son of As Promised
covered the mile in 1:54.3. Using a powerful third quarter
mark of 27.1 seconds he won by 1 3/4 lengths for
trainer/driver Bill Davis.
His race time was
just three-fifths of a second off the track mark set by
then three-year-old filly Fast Lane Cruizin on Sept. 3,
2000.
Mortified was forced
to share some of the spotlight with young horses prepping
for this weekend’s Oak Tree and Arbutus Stakes finals for
three-year-olds.
Another Murphy/Davis
horse had a big day. Competing in the third of three
Arbutus elimination legs, Red Star Rockaway, a
three-year-old daughter of Pacific Rocket, paced the mile
in 1:55, knocking a fifth of a second off her lifetime
mark.
The times of
Mortified and Rockaway illustrate how fast the Sandown
track is as they are right on par with those turned in at
Edmonton’s Northlands Park, which many consider the
fastest 5/8 mile track in Western Canada.
Rockaway’s showing
makes her a heavy favorite for Sunday’s final. Lo N Jo,
trained and driven by Dave Jungquist and Red Star
Sapphire, trained and driven by Rene Goulet, were winners
of the other legs, both in 1:58.3.
Others in the field
are Called To The Bar, second by 2 ½ lengths to Rockaway
and part of a Dave Hudon entry with Kiss Me Jate, Go Go
Lynette, Taylor Factor and Eternal Gift.
While Rockaway looks
best in the filly final, the battle for honors in the Oak
Tree for colts should be tighter.
Holding the top
morning line odds of 2-1 for Saturday’s final is
Qucarachee, trained by Bill Young. The big son of Dal Reo
Hop Sing has quickly risen to the ranks of the top
contenders. After not racing since his second start as a
two-year-old on Oct. 11, Qucarachee won a qualifier in
June by 12 lengths in under two minutes. In two starts at
Sandown he has lowered his lifetime mark to 1:56.1,
winning last week’s elimination leg with driver Terry
Kaufman.
But Red Star
Turbulent, a leg winner in 1:57.1; Mad Thunder, second to
Qucarachee, and part of a Rick White entry with This Show
Is Over; Lennix Lewes, second to Turbulent, and Time Deal,
winner of the third leg; will all get consideration.
Long-shot chances are Showtime Eddy and Red Star Spitfire.
ISLAND DOMINATOR:
While some new blood has stolen the spotlight on the
equine side at Sandown, a familiar face has been at the
top of the human performance chart.
Davis, long-time
leading driver and trainer in B.C., has had a red-hot
start at the North Saanich layout. Davis had five
victories as a driver last Sunday to give him eight for
the weekend and 12 for the meet. Rick White has six.
On the conditioner
side, Davis has 10 visits to the winner’s enclosure. Chris
Adamson and Wayne Isbister have four each.
BEV THE BATTLER:
Bev Mohorich, office manager for the B.C. Standardbred
Breeders Society, is recovering at home from surgery at
Delta Hospital. Bev does her duties in fine fashion but
also rises above the call with her help in recalling names
and dates of many significant harness racing occurrences.
(Or not so significant at times).
Bev is not happy
being scratched and promises to be back at work soon.
Another in the game
who has battled health problems recently includes
owner/trainer Charles Dillen (heart attack) but he is back
on the scene.
One who may be
sidelined a little longer is trainer Mike Bourgeois. Mike
was kicked in a leg by a young horse right after it had
returned to shed row from a workout. Bourgeois’ leg was
broken near the knee and a plate was inserted.
TRACK WORK:
Men and machines will be on the scene in late July to
begin track work at Fraser Downs. The object is to try to
make the turn near the three-quarter pole not quite such
the adventure as it has been since the track was
lengthened from a half mile to 5/8 in 1996. Coons and Sons
will be project managers and Mainroad Construction the
contractor.
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