The best of the female
gender on the grounds at Fraser Downs will battle this
Sunday in the $25,000 Miss Cloverdale.
The who’s who list
will include four-year-olds such as Silvery Belle and
Furious Five along with older mares such as Westart Love,
Betterfrombehind, Alldressedinvelvet, Lady Lola, Coco Bongo
and Hurricane Pat.
Silvery Belle is fresh
off a strong victory in the Miss Valentine Pace where she
edged favorite and multi-times winner Furious Five by a
neck.
Silvery Belle, a
daughter of Just Camelot, now has eight lifetime wins,
$58,000-plus in earnings and a 7-3-2 record in her last 15
starts. Furious Five has 12 wins and more than $237,000 in
earnings in her career.
Several of the other
challengers in the Miss Cloverdale have been competing in
the fillies and mares open.
Lola, a relative
newcomer to the Downs, won the last open when two of the
favorites made breaks and Red Star Ginny crossed the line
first. However, Ginny was placed back when entry-mate
Betterfrombehind was charged with interference.
The red-hot Westart
Love was working on a six-race winning streak going into
that race but made a break when alone in the lead.
Betterfrombehind, winner of many stakes at the Downs, had
earlier made a break, causing interference to Coco Bongo.
Lola, a five-year-old
daughter of Astreos, now has seven career wins and earnings
of more than $106,000.
Westart Love was
claimed for a track record $43,750 by Robert Murphy from
Niele Jiwan after that race and will be part of an entry
with Betterfrombehind. Love has drawn the rail while BFB
will start from the five hole.
Meanwhile, Hurricane
Pat, a five-year-old daughter of Falcons Future, won 13
times in 2006, and recently made it three straight wins in
2007. She will be in the seven hole as part of a Bill
Davis-trained entry with Alldressedinvelvet.
Silvery Belle will
have to challenge from the six hole while Furious Five will
start just inside Westart Love.
KING IS KING:
With no open events on the cards last weekend, it was a
$35,000 claiming event for the male gender that topped bill.
Rodeo King, a
four-year-old son of Blissfull Hall out of Fleder De Dee,
went gate to wire to top a field of seven in a time of
1:55.1. Rodeo King is owned by Niele Jiwan and trained and
driven by Bill Davis.
Rodeo King, the 3-5
favorite, had to hold off a late charge by Armbro Blacktie,
the 2-1 second choice who was fourth, five back, at the half
to win by a neck with Hi Time Ascot third.
Rodeo King now has a
5-3-1-0 record and more than $25,000 in earnings in 2007.
A PAUSE FOR AWARDS:
Bulletin: Bill Davis did not lead the driver standings
last weekend. But … there’s a good chance he would have had
he not missed Saturday’s action while attending the Alberta
harness racing awards ceremony.
Davis had three wins
and trailed Clint Warrington and Jim Marino who had four
apiece.
Gord Abbott and Jim
Burke joined Davis with three while Barry Treen, Ed Tracey
and Scott Knight had two each.
Davis led all trainers
with a six-pack as three horses he had entered Saturday won
with catch drivers.
Mike Glover was second
to Davis with three victories while Brett Currie, Warrington
and Tracey had two each.
SOPRANO STORY:
Red Star Soprano is still a hit show.
The six-year-old son
of Barnett Hanover, who had an eight-race winning streak
broken Jan. 12, captured his fourth win in succession last
Friday.
Soprano won by a
length over fast-closing Boiling Over (28.2-second last
quarter) in 1:55.1.
Trained and driven by
Bill Davis for owner Niele Jiwan, Soprano, who won 12 times
in 2006, now has 25 lifetime wins and more than $137,000 in
career earnings.
THE WEEK'S BEST:
Double Stutz, a four-year-old gelding by Stutzpan,
grabbed his first win since 2005 covering the mile in a new
lifetime mark of 1:58.2. Double Stutz, owned, trained and
driven by Steve Germain, had finished second three straight
times before the win.
Red Star Sailor, a
three-year-old colt by Fit For Life out of Shipps Showboat,
registered his third win in a row for trainer/driver Clint
Warrington. Sailor has made four lifetime starts and won
them all. His win ended the two-race win streak of Wanton
Hall who was second. Sailor is a full brother to Red Star
Riverboat who also crossed the wire first last Sunday but
was tagged with interference and taken down.
Regal Intention, a
four-year-old son of As Promised, made in two victories in
succession for trainer Barry Treen.
Miracle Five, a
five-year-old daughter of Dole Hanover, won her second
straight for hot trainer Ed Tracey. Miracle Five went the
mile in a new career best time of 1:58.4.
Red Star Pristine, a
six-year-old mare by Gothic Dream, got her fourth win (along
with a third) in six starts in 2007 for trainer Bill Davis.
Cucomunga, a
five-year-old son of D M Dilinger, picked up his 10th career
victory, this time for trainer Dave Hudon.
Carwins C E O, a
seven-year-old son of Die Laughing, ran his 2007 record to
7-4-1-1 with the 20th win of his career. He is now trained
by Brett Currie.
Daves Showboat, a
six-year-old son of Deamons Bell, rolled to his second win a
in a row and the 20th of his career for trainer Ken Dorman.
Mendosino County, a
four-year-old son of Stutzpan, picked up his second
successive victory for trainer Jackie Scheepbouwer.
Married Bliss, a
six-year-old son of Blissfull Hall, captured the 20th win of
his career, this time for trainer Bob Merschback.
Tonka Tik (g 4 Glance
Alworth) had his adrenalin flowing as he roared around the
track with trainer/driver Ed Tracey in 1:55.4 for a new life
mark; Judges Acenthehole (f 3 Aces N Sevens) lowered her
lifetime best clocking to 1:59 for trainer Mike Glover.
BUD JOINS
FINALISTS: Bud Ketcheson captured week seven of the
California Dreamin’ handicapping contest at Fraser Downs.
Ketcheson ran up a
total of $732 for a close decision over Ronald Bisset who
had $722.
Mas Kariya was third
at $594 while Robert Glenn had $590, Tom Moffat $506 and
Elvis Rumaldo and Ken Stewart tied at $503.
Ketcheson joins
previous week’s winner Maple Lam, along with Louis Iskra,
Ronnie Goodey, Sarah Day, Ray Hall and David Porter in the
contest final.
Only two more weeks
remain in the contest that will have each weekly winner
competing in the final on March 3 to try to win a trip to
the Santa Anita Derby on April 7.
Contestants are
allowed to pick any three races using races 3-8 on the
designated Saturday cards from Santa Anita Racetrack. Each
selection will have a mythical $20 across the board wager on
it. The person with the most money from his/her three races
will be off to the final. Prices will be capped at $42 for a
win, $22 for a second and $12 for a third. Each weekly
winner will receive $100 as a prize.
The final this year
has a slight twist. Each of the nine finalists will have a
live bankroll of $180 to wager. Six races from Santa Anita
will be selected and each contestant must place a $10 across
the board wager on each of the races. The twist: if a
contestant makes money for the day, regardless if he or she
is grand champion, they get to keep their proceeds.
Entry ballots will be
available starting at 10 on Friday morning and must be
handed in before the start of the second race at Santa
Anita. Only one entry per person is allowed
