IVYS WINE SPARKLES TO
TRACK RECORD
No other fine wine has anything on Ivys
Wine.
Power and speed were liberally added to
texture, bouquet and taste for Ivys Wine’s award-winning
performance last Sunday in a track record-breaking showing
in the fillies and mares open.
The five-year old daughter of Barnett
Hanover out of Scamper Almahurst went gate to wire in
winning in a clocking of 1:53.2. That was a full second
faster than the previous Fraser Downs record of 1:54.2 for
aged mares.
The previous mark was shared by Arturos
Choice, who set it on Nov. 21, 2003, and by Red Star
Madeline who tied it on April 30, 2005.
Despite starting from the five-hole in
the field of seven, Ivys Wine, driven by Tim Brown, was
dominant all the way. She sprinted to the front early and
held a 1½-length lead at the quarter, which was covered in
27.3 seconds, and a two-length lead at the 57.2 half.
The lead was narrowed to a half at
three-quarters (1:25.1) but she impressively pulled away in
the stretch.
Make Some Noise, part of an 8-5 second
choice entry, chased Ivy all the way but fell to third at
the finish as Ivys’ stablemate, Carson Jane, came on for
second. Ivy and Jane were an even-money favorite from the
barn of trainer Dave Hudon and owner Bill Boden.
Rustle For It was fourth and First
Look, the mildly-surprising winner of the open the previous
week was fifth.
The victory was the second of the year
and 10th lifetime for Ivys Wine who now has 2006 earnings of
more than $17,500 and lifetime of more than $182,000.
Those with good memories will remember
that Ivy was second in the B.C. Sales Stake as both a two
and three-year-old and won the three-year-old B.C. Breeders
Stake in November of 2004 (and the $51,535 winner’s share).
PLATE FINAL SET: Solar Wind
raced to a new lifetime mark and Areyouinorout extended his
winning streak to four in each winning a $8,364 Sandown
Plate elimination Friday at Fraser Downs.
Solar Wind, a son of Usher Hanover,
making his first start since finishing second in the Sales
Stake on Dec. 11, went gate to wire in 1:56.2 in the event
for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
Solar Wind, the 3-5 favorite trained
and driven by Barry Treen, won by 2½ lengths over a
fast-closing Silk Puddles (28.3 second last quarter) while
Superfecta Kid was third and Cash Account was fourth.
The victory bumped Solar Wind's
lifetime earnings to $23,865 for the E S Stables of Surrey,
who purchased him for $3,500 at the 2004 B.C. Yearling
Sale.
In his first start in B.C.,
Areyouinorout extended his streak after three straight wins
at Cal-Expo in Sacramento.
Areyouinorout equaled his lifetime mark
of 1:55.4 for owners Al Anderson of Willows, CA., and the J
J J Stables of Aldergrove.
Anderson trains the son of Camluck who
was a 2-5 favorite. He got away third but rallied from off
the pace with a strong backstretch move for driver Bill
Davis to win by two lengths. Warrawee Hero, a recent arrival
from Ontario, finished second after setting the early pace
with Joe Millionaire third and Rogerthedodger fourth.
Areyouinorout, who was unraced as a
two-year-old, has earned $9,182 after being bought for a
$10,000 price tag from the 2004 Forest City Yearling Sale.
The top four finishers – along with
Papa J who drew in from the fifth-place finishers -- from
each of last Friday's eliminations will battle for the
$30,000 in the Sandown Plate final, which goes Saturday at
the Downs.
DUCA AGAIN: Duca made it two
wins in a row and three of four, since arriving at Fraser
Downs, by capturing the open event last Saturday.
Duca, the 4-5 favorite, went gate to
wire in winning by 4½ lengths while flashing over the Downs
5/8-mile oval in 1:53.2 for the mile. That is the fastest
clocking for the meet.
In his other open start Duca was second
(by a nose).
The five-year-old son of Western
Hanover, trained and driven by Bill Davis, was perhaps aided
by the fact that three others in the field of six made
breaks. That included second choice Duke Is Duke and third
choice Red Star Senator who went on to finish sixth and
fifth respectively.
Armbro Blacktie, who also put in steps,
recovered to end second while 24-1 shot Hi Time Ascot was
third.
Duca, who has a lifetime mark of 1:52
set at Woodbine in Toronto, now has won more than $25,000 in
2006 and more than $192,000 in his career
TORO CHANGES TACTICS, STILL WINS:
El Toro did not roar away from the gate last Friday but
he won just the same – for the third week in a row. The
newcomer to the Downs, a four-year-old son of Jate Lobell,
moved up a level, changed tactics and came from off the pace
to win by a length for trainer Mike Glover and driver Jim
Marino.
Im In Overdrive, a seven-year-old son
of Royal Dilemma, moved barns and up in class but still won
his third consecutive race. He won this time for trainer
Alex Gibb and driver Barry Treen.
Sail The Sevenseas, a five-year-old son
of Scruffy Hanover, won his second straight at the $20,000
claiming level for trainer/driver Tim Brown.
Carwins C E O, a six-year-old son of
Die Laughing, was another who moved up in class but it did
not stop him from capturing his second in a row for trainer
Diana Davie and driver Gord Abbott.
Sues Delema, a six-year-old daughter of
Freedoms Pass, won her fifth race in eight starts in 2006
for trainer/driver Abbott.
Gemini Ridge, a four-year-old daughter
of Falcons Future, covered the mile in 2:01.1 for a career
best for trainer/driver Rick White.
Alldressedinvelvet got her second
straight win in her second straight career best time, on
this occasion 1:56 last Saturday. The latest win for the
four-year-old daughter of Richess Hanover came for new
trainer/driver Bill Davis.
Velvet’s lifetime mark was one of six
on Saturday. The others were Nazko Daytona (1:59.4), Rocket
Rachael (1:58.1), Hot Venture (1:54.2), Red Star Biggirl
(1:55) and Sammy Souvlaki (1:54.4).
Laugh To The Bank, an eight-year-old
son of Die Laughing, won his second in a row for driver Gord
Abbott and trainer Bill Young. The winner’s share pushed
Banker’s lifetime earnings to more than $100,000.
Cher The Wealth, a six-year-old
daughter of Wheelin Chance, made it four wins (and a second)
in her last five starts for trainer/driver Tim Brown.
Hurricane Pat moved barns but it failed
to stop the four-year-old daughter of Falcons Future from
capturing her third straight. Despite starting from the
outside eight hole, Pat lowered her mark by two seconds as
she covered the mile in 1:56.4 for trainer/driver Bill
Davis.
Spartacus Dee J, a three-year-old son
of Spartacus L M N, won his second in a row (his last was
Dec. 30) and registered a new life mark of 1:57 for Davis.
Davis was red hot as Ss Sand Dollar
collared his second straight and lowered his career best to
1:54.2.
Rambo Pass picked up a new career best
of 1:56.2 (and was claimed for the fifth time in his last
seven starts)
C Lec Thor Two, an eight-year-old son
of C Lechthor, dropped his lifetime mark to 2:00 as he won
for the first time since Feb. 20, 2004, 49 starts ago. He
had not won a cent in nine starts in 2006 and picked up $150
in 19 starts in 2005.
Better Best, an eight-year-old daughter
of Cambest, won her second consecutive race for trainer
Wayne Isbister and driver Jim Marino.
DAVIS DEADLY: Bill Davis left
his mark and then left town.
Davis was at his best dominating self
last weekend as he rolled to nine victories and a driver and
six as a trainer.
He started the weekend with three
victories last Friday and followed with two Saturday and
four Sunday. Tuesday morning he left with several horses to
compete at Edmonton’s Northlands Park.
After his big weekend he as left top
driver for the meet with 110 wins, one more than Jim Marino,
and best for 2006 at 64, again one more than Marino.
Marino tied with Serge Masse, Tim Brown
and Barry Treen at four triumphs last weekend. Gord Abbott
had three and Clint Warrington two. Warrington’s win with
Red Star Dixie on Friday was his first of 2006.
Davis’ six-pack gave him 39 wins as a
trainer in 06 to again lead all. Treen had three last
weekend followed by Brown at two while 25 others tied at one
each.
BCSA DIRECTORS CHOSEN: Four new
members have been elected to the B.C. Standardbred
Association board of directors.
Newly elected members for two-year
terms are Richard Craig, Gerald Evans and Jim Marino along
with Greg Beneen for a one-year term. Incumbents returned
are Jim Vinnell and Scott Knight for two-year terms.
Allan Eng, Dave McKellar, John Zahara
and Fred Zaitsoff also put their names forward.
The newly elected board will assume
their duties following the annual general meeting scheduled
for Monday (March 27) at 7 p.m. in the Backstretch
Restaurant.
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