DELTA FINAL SET
One win streak continued while another
one came to a surprising, and furious, end last Saturday in
two $8,364 Delta Pace qualifying legs for three-year-old
pacing fillies at Fraser Downs.
Leanback Coco, a three-year-old by
Cambest out of Racin For Annie, made it two-for-two in 2006
and five-for-five victories in her career by taking the
first leg in gate-to-wire fashion.
Leanback Coco, a 1-9 favorite, was too
strong in the field of five, going the first quarter in 28.2
seconds and the last in 28.3 to win by 2¼ lengths in a
career-best equalizing time of 1:57.2
Sweetypea, a daughter of Freedoms Pass,
and a stakes winner at two, was forced to chase the winner
all the way but could not narrow the margin. Red Star Ocean
(Mattduff) was third third and Gg S Magi was fourth.
Leanback Coco’s share of the purse
bumped her career earnings to $10,232 for partners
driver/trainer Serge Masse and Jim Vinnell.
Red Star Biggirl, B.C.’s two-year-old
filly of the year in 2005, had won one more without a
setback than Coco coming into her elimination.
Starting on the outside of the field of
six she got to the front for driver/trainer Clint Warrington
at the quarter and cleared just after. She led by two and
still carried a 1½- length lead at the three-quarter pole.
However, Furious Five had started a second over trip after
the half, and although having to go three wide at the
three-quarter mark, was just too strong in the stretch.
With driver Jim Burke, Furious Five, a
6-1 second choice roared away to win by 4½ lengths in a new
lifetime mark of 1:57.1.
It was the second career win for the
daughter of Faldo Hanover out of Big Five. She is owned by
Jarm Investments of Edmonton and Liz Hollingsworth of
Langley.
Red Star Biggirl, a daughter of
Grinfromeartoear, held on to finish second while Gg S
Connfidence rounded out the top three and Smooth Rockette
was fourth.
Furious Five, who was winless in eight
starts as a two-year-old (but won $22,059), is now 2-for-7
in her sophomore season with lifetime earnings of $32,136.
The top four finishers from each of
eliminations return to the Downs on Saturday to contest the
$30,000 final.
FIRST LOOK LOOKS GOOD: First
Look deserves a second look, and maybe more.
The five-year-old daughter of Davids
Pass moved up to the fillies and mares open last Sunday
after a win the previous week. The jump in class made no
difference as the result was the same.
Actually it was more impressive as she
toured the Downs 5/8-mile oval in a career best 1:56.4 to
win by a neck over the hard-closing Make Some Noise.
Owned, driven and trained by Brad Watt,
First Look was sent off from the five hole in the field of
seven as the 9-2 second choice. She was well back early,
fifth at the quarter and fifth at the half.
Meanwhile, the 1-5 favored entry of
Carson Jane and Ivys Wine left in the 1-2 positions and were
still there until the first-up First Look grabbed second on
the outside at the three-quarter pole. From there First Look
came home in 28.4 seconds and nipped the 28.2 closing Make
Some Noise.
Carson Jane was third, a half length
back, and Ivys Wine fourth by three-quarters of a length.
The top six crossed the wire separated by only three
lengths.
First Look has now won three of eight
in 2006 with more than $18,000 in earnings and she has
amassed 12 victories and more than $87,000 in her career.
YANKEE MONEY BANKS MORE: Yankee
Money could change his name to Canuck Money, Any Money, or
All Money.
The six-year-old son of Make A Deal,
continues to roll in the dough in 2006. Trained and driven
by Jim Marino (and owned by Jim’s mom Barbara Landers),
Yankee Money, won his third straight and pushed his 2006
record to 9-5-2-1. He now has won more than $16,000 in the
year. For the second week in a row he covered the mile in a
lifetime best, this time 1:57.
El Toro is one lonely bull – because he
wins by so much. For the second successive week El Toro, a
four-year-old son of Jate Lobell, put plenty of space
between him and the field in winning. After winning his
second start ever at the Downs by 9¼ lengths, Toro breezed
last Friday by 7¾ lengths for trainer Mike Glover and driver
Marino.
Other lifetime marks that feel on
Friday were Dal Reo Tiarra at 2:00.1, Highway Man at 1:56.1
and Four Starz Matty at 2:00.4.
Red Star Fantasia, a four-year-old
daughter of Island Fantasy, made it two in a row while
cruising to a new lifetime mark of 1:56.4 last Saturday.
Fantasia has won four, along with three seconds, in 10
starts in 2006 for driver/trainer Bill Davis.
U Smooth Operator, a four-year-old son
of Armbro Operative, won his second successive race for
trainer Paul Urquhart and driver Davis.
Alldressedinvelvet got her first win of
2006 in a new career best time of 1:56.1. The four-year-old
daughter of Richess Hanover races for trainer Jane Kelly and
driver Davis.
Red Star Yogi, a four-year-old son of
Storm Compensation, used a ground-saving trip to register a
new lifetime mark of 1:55.2 for driver/trainer Gord Abbott.
Trulyatyrant, a six-year-old son of
True Tyrant, trained by Alex Gibb and driven by Barry Treen,
won his second straight last Sunday and fifth in eight
starts in 2006.
Rodeo King, a three-year-old son of
Blissful Hall, lowered his career best for the second
straight week, this time to 1:57.4, for trainer/driver Serge
Masse. Rodeo King has three wins and two seconds in six
starts in 2006.
Red Star Dusty wins again. The
five-year-old son of Just Camelot made it two in a row for
trainer Ann Cooper and driver Tim Brown. When Dusty won the
previous week it ended a streak of 52 starts without a
victory.
Im In Overdrive, a seven-year-old son
of Royal Dilemma, won his second consecutive race for
trainer/driver Rene Goulet – and then was claimed.
Millbanks Arrow, a four-year-old
daughter of Usher Hanover, was flying last Sunday, covering
the mile in 1:56.4, knocking more than four seconds off her
previous best for Davis and trainer John Zahara.
BIG BOYS BEST: The rich got
richer last weekend in the Downs driving derby. The five
leading drivers in 2006 were also the best last weekend.
Bill Davis (second in ‘06 at 55), Tim
Brown (third with 39) and Serge Masse (fourth with 27) all
had six victories on the weekend. Jim Marino (who leads at
59) and Gord Abbott (fifth at 26) were right behind with a
handful.
The only other driver with more than
one victory was Jim Burke who collared three.
Masse, Abbott, Davis and Wayne Isbister
led all trainers with three visits to the winner’s
enclosure. Ray Gemmill and Ann Copper had two wins apiece.
AUSTIN HEADS BREEDERS: Mary
Austin has been elected as the new president of the B.C.
Standardbred Breeders' Society.
Austin, a breeder, owner, trainer had
been a member of the board of the society.
Also receiving board posts at a March 7
meeting were Cal Nyuli as vice president and Bill Pambrun as
treasurer.
New directors elected were Bob
Chadwick, Shirley Klassen and Jim Findlay joining incumbents
Pambrun, Sue Currie and Rick White.
Meanwhile, in regular business, a
motion was made to continue with the Arbutus Stake for
three-year-old fillies. The Arbutus has been held at Sandown
Park in the past but it was dropped when dates were shuffled
at the Island track.
The Arbutus now will be held at Fraser
Downs in October.
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