CARSON JANE GETS
THIRD STRAIGHT
This could be a recording: Carson Jane
was the best in winning the fillies and mares open last
Saturday.
The six-year-old daughter of Cambest
covered the mile over the good track in a nifty 1:56.3 in
winning – for the third straight week – this time by four
lengths over Make Some Noise.
Carson Jane, with trainer Dave Hudon in
the bike, was assigned the outside post in a field of six.
But ignoring what was happening behind her she left quickly
from the gate and was second on the outside at the quarter.
The 9-5 favorite took the lead in front
of the grandstand and was never really threatened despite
late rallies by Make Some Noise and Concrete Angel.
The “what was happening behind her” was
trouble well before the start for G Vs Cam Can and a break
at the start by Armbro Beachbaby. That essentially left a
field of four.
Concrete Angel, who has won two
straight at the $15,000 claimer level, was third.
Jane now has won seven times and been
second twice in the last 10 opens and Noise has won two and
been second five times in seven open races.
For Carson Jane, who is owned by Bill
Boden, the win was the 21st of her career and pushed her
career earnings to more than $145,000.
EMERSON SHARP IN TOP CLAIMER:
The big boys (open event challengers) took the weekend off
so a $35,000 claiming event took the spotlight on Friday’s
card.
Red Star Emerson, a six-year-old son of
Armbro Emerson, used a late rally to win by half a length in
a time of 1:58.2. Emerson was claimed out of a win at the
$20,000 level by Kalla Judge on Dec. 3. In three previous
starts at $35,000 for Judge and trainer/driver Gord Abbott
he was close (second, third and fourth).
The win for the 5-2 second choice
pushed his career earnings to more than $201,000.
Broadway Time was second and Red Star
Admiral, part of a 9-5 favored entry, was third.
Magic Pal, who had won three of his
last four starts in the $20,000 event, moved up for new
owner Robert Murphy but found the outside eight post a bit
much and was fifth.
Meanwhile, Jim Marino drove Sinful
Sally, a seven-year-old by Lemoyne Hanover, to her third
straight victory for trainer Ann Cooper.
In the midst of a good weekend, Barry
Treen drove (and trained) Sues Delema to her second straight
win (along with a second) in 2006.
TREEN, NEYHART IN LIMELIGHT: Top
Downs’ drivers Bill Davis and Jim Marino each had another
fine weekend but they shared the spotlight with
driver/trainer Barry Treen and trainer Erik Neyhart.
Davis, the meet’s leading driver,
picked up seven wins in the three days while Marino had
six.
Meanwhile, Treen had his best weekend
of the meet, registering a grand slam of wins on Sunday to
also finish with six.
Dave Hudon and Gord Abbott each had
three victories while Dave McKellar and Brad Watt had two
apiece.
Neyhart made a big splash as he got his
first win -- and more -- as a trainer in 2006. He won with
Tahuya Lucky Lady on Friday, then Tahuya Lark, a 3-1 second
choice in the first race Saturday and came right back to
make it a true daily double, winning with 14-1 shot Tahuya
Clyde M in the second. Rounding out the weekend was a
victory Sunday with Tahuya Adara, who covered the mile in
1:59.4 for a new life mark.
Treen did not have to share anything in
the top trainer category as all his driving wins came with
horses he conditions. Neyhart was next with his four and
picking up two each were Abbott, Hudon, Davis and Tim
Brown.
Driver/trainer Jamie Gray, a regular on
the Alberta circuit, got his first win of the year.
FLASHY FINISHES: That frequent
flashing light you saw Friday was the finish-line camera at
the Downs as close and exciting finishes were the order of
the night.
It started in the first with a photo
for third and all nine starters finishing within 6½ lengths
of the winner. In the second there was a photo for first (by
a head) and seven horses within 3½ lengths. In the third
there was another photo for first (again by a head) and
ditto for the fourth where the third-place finisher was also
close.
In the fifth there was a photo for
second where three horses were almost attached and a photo
for seventh between four horses. In the sixth there were
photos for place and show as six horses were within 1½
lengths.
In the seventh race the camera guy was
able to take a coffee break.
In the eighth a photo was needed to
separate second, third, and fourth. In the ninth the first
six horses were separated by only 1½ lengths. In the 10th
three competitors battled for second and three for fifth.
The camera guy got another break in the
11th but he needed it as the 12th had a three-way photo for
the win and seven horses within 2¼ lengths.
The replays, which can be found through
a link on the Downs web site, could be worth watching.
HHC CANCELLED: A lack of entries
has forced Fraser Downs to cancel what was to be the first
Harness Handicapping Challenge.
The contest was to get under way on
Feb. 4.
The top prizes would have had the top
two competitors represent the Downs in the National Harness
Handicapping Championship at the Meadowlands on April 22.
The top five contestants would have
received cash and prizes with the top two receiving airfare
to Newark, New Jersey, accommodations for two nights in
Rutherford, N.J. and entry into the National Harness
Handicapping Championship.
At the NHHC, the grand prize will be
$50,000 U.S.
ZUROWSKI MAKES THREE: Len
Zurowski of Surrey captured week three of the California
Dreamin’ Handicapping Contest last Saturday at Fraser
Downs.
Zurowski, who was fourth the previous
week, won a tight three-way battle with $615 to take the
week’s honors and a $250 prize. Iris Emerson was second at
$598 and Pete Day was close for third at $594.
Fourth place went to Ronnie Goodey at
$510 while Ron Prosnick was fifth at $455.
Zurowski joins week one and two winners
Bob Kosolofski and Art Worsfold in the contest final.
The contest, which will result in the
winner spending a weekend at Santa Anita racetrack in
California for the Santa Anita Derby on April 8, runs for 10
weeks.
Each Saturday until March 4,
contestants will be asked to handicap a series of races from
Santa Anita. Entry ballots will be made available at Guest
Services the morning of each contest day and entry forms
must be submitted before the scheduled post of the second
race at Santa Anita.
The contest consists of six races from
the Santa Anita card, races three through eight, of which
three must be handicapped. For each of the three horses
selected, a mythical $20 win/place/show bet will be placed.
At the end of each contest day, scores will be tallied and
the entrant with the highest total for that contest day will
be crowned a finalist and will receive the weekly $250 prize
money.
The 10 finalists will battle
head-to-head in the California Dreamin' Handicapping
Championship on Saturday, March 11 in the Homestretch Party
Zone.
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