Careers

BACH, BIGGIRL BEST OF BEST 

Despite an outside post and an off track, Armbro Bach was impressive in rolling to his second straight victory last Saturday at Fraser Downs. 

Bach, a five-year-old son of Village Jiffy, won the claiming $35,000 (non-winners of $7,500 last six) event by half a length for the 20th win of his career. 

Bach, with Dave McKellar in the sulky, was farthest out in the field of six and was farthest back (6½ lengths) at the half-mile post. He came second over but was still only fifth (four back) at the three-quarter mark. A fine 28.4 second last quarter on the sloppy, off two seconds, track led to his victory in 1:57.4. 

Stablemate Red Star Senator, part of the 2-5 favored entry, went to the front from the gate and (despite No. 5 post) held on for second with Accent Seelster third. 

Armbro Bach, who is owned by Robert Murphy and trained by Bob Merschback, now has career earnings of more than $230,000. 

It was a good day for Murphy and Merschback as their Red Star Biggirl captured the weekend’s top event (claiming $15,000 to $20,000 and non-winners of seven races lifetime) for fillies and mares. 

Biggirl, a three-year-old by Grinfromeartoear, went gate to wire from the outside seven post, for a 2¾ length victory in 1:57.3. Jim Burke, driving the starry sophomore for the first time, piloted the 3-5 favorite to her seventh victory in eight career starts. 

Jimmy Jams Jubilee was second all the way while Hf Percy closed strongly for third, another three lengths back. 

Biggirl won all five of her starts, and $49,210, as a two-year-old in 2005. This year she has two wins and a second with one victory coming in the Delta Plate final. She has career earnings of more than $70,500. 

DUSTY MAKING AMENDS: Red Star Dusty is obviously making up for lost time.  

Remember that the five-year-old son of Just Camelot who was so successful early in his career but then did not win for 51 straight starts. 

Now he is winning often and strongly. Trained by Ann Cooper and driven by Tim Brown, Dusty captured his fourth in a row last Friday and lowered his lifetime mark – for the second successive week – this time to 1:56.4. 

Law Of The Yukon, a five-year-old son of Fit For Life, waited until his 13th start of the year to get a win but it was sharp as he covered the mile in a career best 1:56.2 for trainer/driver Dave Hudon. 

Goldies Eldorado won his fourth in 12 starts in 2006. He was timed in 1:56.4, his best in more than two years and not bad for a 10-year-old son of Reckless Regard trained and driven by Scott Knight. 

Better Best maintained a strong showing so far in 2006 by winning her third straight last Saturday with driver Jim Marino. The eight-year-old daughter of Cambest has an 11-4-3-2 mark this year for trainer Wayne Isbister. 

Daves Showboat, a five-year-old son of Deamons Bell, who had a career best time of 1:58.1 the previous week, made it two straight victories for trainer Ken Dorman and driver Andy Arsenault. 

Dal Reo Millee, a six-year-old daughter of Scruffy Hanover, passed the $100,000 mark in career earnings with a win for trainer Helmut Ratz. 

I The Undersigned, a seven-year-old daughter of Thatll Be Me trained by Wayne Isbister, won her second in a row, the 25th of her career and ran her 2006 mark to 11-5-2-3.  

Fast N Lucky (3, Dancing Puddles) set a lifetime mark of 1:59.3 two weeks ago and then came back with his second straight win for driver Jim Burke and trainer Heather Burke. 

Tackman, a three-year-old son of Dal Reo Hop Sing, lowered his career best time to 1:57.2 (the second straight week he beat his time) and won his second consecutive race last Sunday for trainer Mike Glover and Marino. 

Tackman was just one five new lifetime marks made Sunday. The others: Dal Reo Tiarra (3, Safe N Rich) covered the mile in 1:59, Phantom (5, Bomb Rickles) in 1:58.2 (winning after being blanked for 34 starts through 2005 and 06), Dr Herr (10, Beach Towel) in 1:58 and Tahuya Lucky Lady (4, Bh Dominator) in 1:59.2

MARINO WIDENS LEAD: Jim Marino widened his lead atop the Downs driver win standings, picking up seven victories last weekend. 

Marino now has 123 for the meet, 12 ahead of Bill Davis, who is now competing in Alberta, while Tim Brown is next with 80. 

Brown joined Jim Burke and Scott Knight with three wins last weekend, while Dave Hudon, Gord Abbott, Andy Arsenault and Serge Masse had two apiece. 

Wayne Isbister paced all trainers with four triumphs last weekend. Bob Merschback, Barry Treen, John Currie, Erik Neyhart and Knight had two each. 

VINNELL HEADS BCSA: Jim Vinnell was chosen as president of the B.C. Standardbred Association by members of the board at the recent annual general meeting. 

Others to be elected as officers were Scott Knight, vice president and Fred Zaitsoff, secretary/treasurer. 

At the meeting Gar Campbell announced his resignation from the board and, following the procedures of the constitution the next available and willing candidate (Zaitsoff), from the recent election of directors, was called upon to complete the term.  

All the committees of the board will be restructured at the next board meeting, which is to be held April 10. 

GCGC ADDS ROBERTS: Great Canadian Gaming Corporation confirmed last week that it has made two major appointments at Flamboro Downs and Georgian Downs.  

Bruce Barbour, already announced as GCGC's newly appointed vice president for racing operations in Ontario, will be responsible for the day-to-day duties at Flamboro Downs in Dundas, Ont. Barbour replaces former general manager Gerard Spoor.  

In addition, Chris Roberts has been appointed as director of operations at Georgian Downs in Innisfil, Ont. Roberts replaces outgoing general manager Dominic Parravano. Roberts was most recently the editor of Standardbred Canada's Trot Magazine.  

“We certainly recognize the efforts of Dominic and Gerard with Georgian and Flamboro,” Chuck Keeling, vice president of Racing Operations for GCGC, told Trot Insider. “It is not a reflection on them or their contributions, we simply wanted to put together a team of people to go forward with the business. 

“We've spent time studying and analyzing the business and simply felt we wanted a certain team of people.” 

RIVER ROCK’S RACEBOOK OPEN: Canada's newest simulcasting venue was unveiled at Western Canada's largest casino and resort March 20, when Richmond's River Rock Casino Resort opened The Racebook at River Rock. 

The Racebook at River Rock offers simulcast wagering from most of the world's most popular racetracks including Fraser Downs, Hastings Racecourse, Georgian Downs, Flamboro Downs, Woodbine, Sha-Tin/Happy Valley Racecourses (Hong Kong), Japan, Australia, Santa Anita, and Hollywood Park. Guests will also be able to wager on heralded races including The Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont, and Breeder's Cup. 

The Racebook at River Rock features 18 flat screen monitors, seating for over 180 enthusiasts, full food and beverage amenities and dedicated self automated betting machines.

(Great Canadian Gaming)

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