CRUISER SET FOR
MEADOWLANDS
A little layover in California
obviously did not have a huge effect on Seven Seas Cruiser.
When we last left the B.C. bred champ
he was in the air flying to New Jersey and ultimately on to
the Meadowlands, the Mecca of harness racing.
The powerful then-three, now-four
-year-old son of Scruffy Hanover out of the mare
Nonukesisgoodnukes had been a dominant force in his division
in B.C, and now was to get a shot at the big boys.
Trainer Tim Brown drove Cruiser to
Oakland before Christmas but he had to wait for a number of
days before being able to get a flight. He did arrive safely
and last Friday showed he did not lose a step.
In a qualifier for an upcoming Stakes
series, Cruiser blasted home in 26.4 seconds over the last
quarter to beat a field of eight. He had the six post, got
to the front early, settled back to second for much of the
race and then came on for a 11/2 length victory. He was
driven by Brian Sears and covered the mile in 1:56.2.
He will now take part tonight (Friday)
in one of a trio of $20,000 Complex Series opening round
divisions. He won a qualifier at the Meadowlands last Friday
in 1:56.2. Seven Seas Cruiser has drawn post eight in his
division, race eight.
"There's not a lot of big races for
him here now," trainer/driver Tim Brown explained before
Cruiser left B.C. "The owner (John Heras of Delta) thought
it would be nice to give him a chance in the east.
Heading to the Meadowlands, Cruiser had
nine wins, five seconds and two thirds in 19 starts in 2004.
He won more than $129,000 in the year and more than $153,000
in his short career.
He has captured the Sandown Plate, a
division of the Sandown Breeders and the B.C. Breeders
Stakes in 2004.
JANE GOOD AGAIN: Carson Jane
threw her form out the window - and was very good again.
Carson Jane went gate-to-wire in
capturing the fillies and mares open last Friday at the
Downs. It was the second straight win for the five-year-old
daughter of Cambest who defeated a field of seven, winning
by 13/4 lengths in 1:58.3 on the slow track.
Owned by Bill Boden and trained and
driven by Dave Hudon, Carson Jane now has won four times in
six starts since arriving at the Downs in November. The
mare, who has a lifetime best of 1:53 set at the
Meadowlands, has been plagued with breaking stride, leaving
her out of contention in what had been a pattern of every
other start.
The 2-5 favorite, who went to the front
from the three post, now has 10 wins and has earned more
than $75,000 in her career.
Bigshoestofill, the 5-1 second choice,
chased Jane the whole way to get second and Mandy Jaccka, a
22-1 shot, was third for the second successive week.
MARINO LEADS WAY: New blood
highlighted the driver and trainer win derbies last
weekend.
Jim Marino grabbed a six-pack,
including a three-bagger Saturday, to lead the way among the
drivers. Tim Brown, despite missing Sunday's action, had
five victories along with Scott Knight. Bill Davis picked up
four while Daniel St Amand, Dave Hudon, Larry Micallef and
Carl Sibiga had two apiece.
A hot Mike Glover topped all trainers
with a handful. Davis had three and Brett Currie, Andy
Arsenault, Rick White, Knight and Brown had two each.
One more new trainer/driver made an
appearance at the Downs last weekend when John Brandon
Campbell, most recently at Edmonton's Northlands Park made a
start. Campbell drove Distant Wind for Saskatchewan owners.
Fellow Albertans Don Monkman, Jr. and
Jerry Nelner each saw their first action.
BIG WINNERS: Some big payoffs
started the weekend by highlighting Friday's action but the
real eye-opener was a record triactor on Sunday.
It looked innocent enough when 5-1
choice Pennys Dancer captured the race. However, closer
inspection revealed she was fourth pick at post time and
when combined with Mellowroad, at 44-1 the longest shot in
the race, and Southside Telstar, 6-1, the result was
$24,451.10.
However, the only winning wager was for
$1 so the lucky - and decidedly clever - ticket holder won
$12,225.55. The previous highest tri was $20,334.90.
On Friday, El Rosal, a 50-1 shot
starting from the eight post, used a strong late rally to
win and pay $102.80 in the eighth race. Cat Street was
second and Groucho N third for a $7,990.40 triactor.
W R Kirena Rose, a 28-1 shot, captured
the 13th race and paid $57.90 to win and strangely $73,20 to
place.
FIRST DRINK TO BEVERIDGE: Lance
Beveridge of White Rock captured the first week's honors,
bragging rights, and $250 in the California Dreamin
Handicapping Contest.
Beveridge waited to the last three
races - entrants handicap races three through eight at Santa
Anita Racecourse -- and then won $509, led by a $415 payoff
in race seven.
Joe Ozorio was second, winning $493,
followed by Jim Sentes $472, Barry Hunt $463 and Gerry
Pegura $457.
Dreamers are after the top prize of a
trip for two to the Santa Anita Derby.
Each Saturday for eight weeks
contestants can win $250 and the day's winner qualifies for
the final, set for March 5.
JENSEN FIRST IN POOL: Rick
Jensen got away from the gate fastest in the first week of
the KENO Harness Pool.
With 19 the most points available,
Jensen roared away with 18 for a two-point lead.
Hans Cyzpull, Jim Dixon, Derek
Johannson, Nancy Spiers and Morris Karpuk were next with 16.
Tied at 15 were Brian Heard, Craig Lalonde, Allan Lester,
Rob McElhinney, Barbara Payne and Shirley Setter.
More than 350 entrants are after the
$10,000 available in prize money. The Pool runs until Feb.
27.
Once again the Pool works like a sports
pool where contestants pick a team of six horses, one from
each box of six horses. Points are awarded for top three
finishes and the top 40 players will receive prizes --
$3,000 for finishing first.
Two trades will be allowed, one on Jan.
21 and the other Feb. 11 (the contest will NOT have two
halves this year).
SERIES POPULAR: Red Star Leam
and Red Star Buck captured the first legs of the Iron Horse
Claiming Series last Saturday. The two legs, with purses of
$4,000, were for horses to be claimed for $5,000 plus
allowances.
Leam won the first division by 41/4
lengths over the 11/16-mile distance in 1:18.4. Buck
actually finished second by half a length to Fox Valley
Riddler in the other division but Riddler was disqualified
and placed eight for causing interference.
Fox Valley Tex, an 83-1 shot, placed
second to Buck while Bjs Touch Down chased Leam to the
wire.
The series has a flashy new name and an
intriguing twist to the format -- legs (and the final) to be
raced over varying distances.
The second leg - for horses to be
claimed for $6,000 plus allowances - will be this Saturday
and the final, with a purse of $15,000, is set for Jan. 22.
The second leg will be a mile and the final will be a long
and rugged mile and 5/16.
Blackbelt Champ was claimed out of the
first division while Riddler and Flying Ambro were claimed
from the second.
Interestingly, the 11/16th first race
was the best bet first race of any card this year, and the
sixth race was the best bet race on the day’s card.
"That was a surprise to us," Downs
general manager Chuck Keeling said. "We figured players
would be intrigued with the race, but we were not certain
that would translate into a larger than normal amount
wagered. Obviously we were wrong."
BETTING AIDS: Tiny Tim's are now
available at Fraser Downs. The TTs are another wagering
device, slightly larger - more like a desktop model - than
the Palm Pilots.
Palm Pilots, introduced for the first
time at any Canadian track a couple of months ago, are
hand-held computers, which will allow you to make your bets
throughout the Downs facilities.
Now the Tiny Tims, which would be ideal
for a group of patrons who wish to share bets, are also
here.
People must be members of HPI (in order
to have an account) and must sign off on a $200 credit card
deposit for the equipment. It will allow them to wander
throughout the facility and wager without ever going to the
mutuel windows.
"For those that hate line ups, this is
the way to wager on a horse race," said Downs' general
manager Chuck Keeling.
See Jewel Kositsky at the HPI window in
the Finish Line for more information.
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