Davis drives seven of own to wins
Driver/trainer Bill Davis has made a
startling return to Fraser Downs after competing in Alberta
the last couple of months. Davis picked up seven wins last
Friday, driving horses he also trains to the winner’s
enclosure.
After missing the opening weekend,
Davis returned for week two and led the way with four wins
in both the driving and training categories. Last weekend –
led by the seven – saw him register 11 driving wins and nine
as a trainer.
The 41-year-old Surrey horseman is
closing in on 4,000 lifetime driving wins and has more than
2,000 training wins.
“It’s been pretty good,” Davis agreed
about his return to the Downs, adding that he “only has 18
horses now but that more are coming in.”
Driver/trainer Rod Therres is another
off to a good start and his new horse, Sierra Speed, turned
in a 1:54 mile Friday, just one tick off the track record.
Sierra Speed edged winners-over ace Bre X by a neck while
registering a new life mark.
Therres and partner Jim Vinnell,
recently claimed Sierra Speed for $4,000 (US) at Cal-Ex in
Sacramento and he has now raced here three times, all wins.
His lifetime mark was just one of many
on the weekend. There were five others on Friday and eight
on Saturday (testament in part to the speed of the
refurbished track).
THE JUDGE SAYS: Last Friday, a
horse, Rhys, was scratched during the post parade for his
race. His being scratched did prompt some patron enquiries
because during the post parade it was announced that there
was a claim (for $10,000) in for him.
How can he be claimed if he did not
race? The answer is, He can’t. That, apparently, was felt to
be unfair by some people.
So TrackMarks asked the judge – in this
case, Herb Hugel.
“First, let it be clear,” said judge
Herb, “that it was the commission vet (who rides in the
starting gate car), who decided that Rhys was unfit to
race.”
But to explain to those enquiring minds
he also explained there is a rule.
“A horse (in this case Rhys) can be
claimed for the same amount (in this case for $10,000) if he
races within the next 30 days no matter at what level of
race he is entered. That would be the case even if he were
entered in the winners-over (the top event outside of
Stakes).”
GOOD IN CALGARY TOO: Bill Davis
continued his busy and top-flight performing, flying to
Calgary on Sunday to take part in Stampede Park’s
Invitational Drivers Challenge where he finished a close
second.
For the second year in a row, hometown
favorite Keith Clark won, picking up 46 points with three
wins and two seconds, overall collecting enough points to
top the nine-driver field. Davis was six points behind Clark
after two wins, a second, a third and a sixth.
The final standings: Clark 46, Davis
40, Jody Jamieson 30, Mike Saftic 30, Mark MacDonald 27,
John Chappell 27, Doug Brown 25 and Paul MacDonell 25.
Jamieson, Saftic, Brown, MacDonald and MacDonnell were
Ontario invaders.
As a group, the drivers raised $8,500
for Juvenile Diabetes.
BIG NAMES: Some big-name sires are on
the list of those up for sale at the annual B.C.
Standardbred Breeders Society Yearling Sale on Nov. 18,
starting at 6:30 p.m., at the Agriplex.
In addition to such top local stallions
as Dal Reo Hop Sing, Daylon Marshal and Dancing Puddles
there is offspring from out-of-province sires including
Camluck, As Promised, Albert Albert, Northern Luck and
Blissful Hall.
A record number of horses – 133 -- have
been entered said Bev Mohorich, office manager for the BCSBS,
and late entrants are welcome for a fee. Mohorich also said
that Bill Pambrum, president of the society, will again head
to the Harrisburg sale in the U.S. to search for possible
in-foal broodmares to add to the sale.
PETTICOAT HIJACKED: Sharons
Pass, who is owned by the Wild Dunes Stable of Delta, went a
strong maiden-breaking trip last Saturday, going gate to
wire to claim victory in the $94,341 Petticoat Stake for
two-year-old pacing fillies at Stampede Park in Calgary.
With Jervis Clifton in the bike, the
daughter of Freedoms Pass went to the front and opened three
lengths on the field at the quarter-pole in 28 seconds. She
hit the half in 56.3 and three-quarters in a nifty 1:25.3
and, despite tiring late in the mile, successfully held on
by two lengths to beat Expensive Return and Klondike Kate in
a lifetime best 1:57.
Sharons Pass, trained by Gord Remmen,
picked up $47,170 for her efforts and has now made more than
$60,000 in five lifetime starts.
SORRY DAD: For the second
straight week trainer Phil Coleman and daughter (and also
trainer) Casie, former Fraser Downs competitors, had horses
meet in a race at Flamboro in Ontario. This time Casie’s
horse Into The Future won while dad had to settle for third
with Oileigh Cam. Casie, who had four horses racing that
day, also won with Road To Success.
MAINMAN’S MOONSHOT: Last week’s
pick, Woodmere Windrop, had trouble trying to break through
traffic and was sixth. This week let’s try Dal Reo
Riverdance, a 10-1 morning line selection, in the 11th
race Friday.
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