Breeders stakes continue
The second eliminations, leading to the
B.C. Breeders Stakes finals - Breeders Classic Day on Nov.
11 - go this weekend at Fraser Downs.
Most of last weekend's first
elimination winners will carry the role of favorite but post
positions, weather conditions, horse and trainer moods and
several other things come in to play.
Such questions as: Can Da Lil Dudett
come back after being upset by Goaheadandlietome (they are
in the same elim again this weekend) and can Seven Seas
Cruiser overcome the outside post, will only be known when
the dust settles. OK, when the last race is over.
A few horses have dropped out for
various reasons with some finding the competition too tough
but most mentioned below will be back.
It was nothing but smooth water for the
Captain, John Heras, and his first mate, Tim Brown, last
Saturday as the first eliminations were held.
The duo of owner Heras and
trainer/driver Brown had smiles as big as anyone as two of
their horses - Seven Seas Cruiser and Sail The Sevenseas -
each captured one of the three elims for three-year-old
colts and geldings.
Cruiser was huge as they say, winning
his fourth race in a row, winning by a whopping 10 1/2
lengths and tying his lifetime mark of 1:54.2 (27.4 last
quarter). The son of Scruffy Hanover out of
Nonukesisgoodnukes, who has won more than $61,000 this year,
trailed The Dark Side at the quarter but roared past in
front of the grandstand and never looked back. The Dark Side
was second and Red Star Golfer third.
Later, the ever-improving Sail The
Sevenseas, bred also by Dal Reo Farms and also a son of
Scruffy out of Ethical, set a lifetime mark of 1:56.4 in
winning by a half a length over 3-5 favorite Dal Reo Revolt.
He got a nifty two-hole trip behind Revolt but won a stretch
battle. Red Star Dusty was third.
In the other colt elim (all went for a
purse of $13,785), another of the J J J Stable/Al
Anderson-owned challengers, Heavy Rain Warning, upset 3-5
favorite Hi Time Ascot. Warning, a son of Kents On Nukes out
of Sparks Will Fly N, also has top credentials, carrying a
lifetime mark of 1:54 and winning a Cal Expo Site Stakes by
8 1/2 lengths in June. Heavy Rain Warning, trained by
Anderson and driven by Dave Hudon, went gate-to-wire as
Ascot, the track record holder for three year olds, was
third behind Red Star Sammy, who was a length behind the
winner.
In one filly race, Ivys Wine, a
daughter of Barnett Hanover from Scamper Almahurst, wired
the field in winning by three lengths for owner Bill Boden
and trainer/driver Hudon. She covered the mile in 1:57.2
with Itsallaboutthemoney second and Red Star Skylight
third.
Goaheadandlietome from the J J
J/Anderson barn, upset Da Lil Dudett in the other filly elim
for $18,600. Goahead used a two-hole trip under the guidance
of Bill Davis, to cover the mile in 1:58 and win by 2 1/4
lengths over Dudett, who had set the pace. Dudett, B.C.’s
two-year-old filly of the year in 2003 and winner of more
than $138,000, was a 1-9 favorite. GAALTM, a daughter of
Albert Albert out of Zenobia, won her fourth in seven starts
in 2004 with 44-1 shot Chrissy Can Do third.
There were seven (four for colts)
eliminations for two-year-olds last Friday. They too had
their stories.
Betterfrombehind, from the J J J and
Anderson barn, had one of several outstanding performances
as she set a track record for two-year-old fillies, covering
the mile in 1:57.2. The daughter of Kents On Nuke, driven by
Davis, was a 4-5 favorite as she won by 4 1/4 lengths over
Freedom Whisper with Lil Dudes Rockette third.
Fast Lane Fusion and Red Star Senator,
won colt divisions by 12 and 6 1/2 lengths respectively.
Fusion, a son of Dancing Puddles, covered the mile in 1:59.3
for owner Neile Jiwan, trainer Rick White and driver Jim
Burke while Senator, by Presidential Ball, owned by Mary
Murphy and trained and driven by Clint Warrington, set a
life mark of 2:00.4 in winning over Dal Reo Bailey and
Proudsonofscotland.
Jimmy Jams Jubilee, a daughter of
Pacific Rocket, roared to a nine-length decision in covering
the mile in 1:58. Owned by Jim Findlay, trained by Mike
Glover and driven by Jim Marino, Jubilee was a 3-5 favorite,
who used a strong move in front of the grandstand the first
time to set up the win over Millbanks Arrow and Rocket
Rachael.
The biggest upset carried some Hawaiian
punch as Wikiwiki Hyakatuke, a son of Safe N Rich, paid
$18.10 in surprising 2-5 favorite Namedbyfreaks. Wiki, owned
by Debbie Burstyk, trained by Terry ("It does rain in dry
spots") Burstyk and driven by Glenn White, was fourth, 4 1/2
lengths back at the half, and won by 1 3/4 in 1:59.2. Better
Days was second and Namedbyfreaks third.
J J J and Anderson did get another
victory when Dal Reo Rebel, a 3-5 favorite went gate to wire
to win a colt elim by 1 1/4 lengths in a life mark of
1:58.1. The son of Brace Yourself now is two-for-two. Double
D Rustler was second and Takeonefortheteam third.
Boden and Hudon hooked up again as Hy
On Freedom took the last filly event. The daughter of
Freedoms Pass, was a 4-5 choice and won by 1/2 length in
2:00.4 with Red Star Ginny second and Red Star Dreamglo
third.
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