NIGHTMARE OVER FOR
DREAMS
Infinite Dreams seems to be back.
The Fraser Downs track record holder
held on to narrowly capture the open event last Friday.
It took 18 races in 2005 before
Infinite Dreams got his first win of the year but he now has
taken two of his last three starts – all in the open -- at
the Downs.
With driver/trainer Dave Hudon,
Infinite Dreams, a 5-2 second choice, started from the
three-hole and settled into fourth early. Armbro Bach, part
of a 1-5 favored entry, battled Duke Is Duke for the early
lead and settled for the two-hole trip.
C Lec Machine was first up, flushing
out Infinite Dreams. He worked his way up on the outside,
held second by a head at the three-quarter mark and was in
front by a neck as they turned for home. Armbro Bach, who
had fallen to third, came back on and just lost by a nose.
Infinite Dreams, who is owned by Bill
Boden, covered the mile in 1:55.1 on a track listed only as
good. Maxamillenium, at 27-1, was 3˝ lengths back in third
in the strong field of eight.
Meanwhile, Make Some Noise did.
That intro has been used more than once
to describe a winning performance by the starry six-year-old
daughter of Camluck. Fraser Downs’ fans should remember a
few races where stablemate Arturos Choice would set the
early pace – and sometimes win – but usually where Make Some
Noise came late for the victory.
It hadn’t happened a lot recently until
last Thursday in the open mares race.
Make Some Noise was content to sit
third early but used a strong move on the backstretch to
take the lead just before the three-quarter mark and never
look back. With driver Jim Burke, Noise covered the mile on
the good track in 1:57.1 to win by four lengths over a
fast-closing Da Lil Dudett.
Make Some Noise, a narrow 2-1 second
choice, is trained by Bob Merschback and owned by Robert
Murphy. It was her sixth win in 18 starts in 2005.
Armbro Beachbaby, the early leader,
held on for third while 8-5 favorite Carson Jane,
handicapped to the outside seven starting post, was fourth.
Headliner continues to be an early star
at the Downs as the four-year-old gelded son of Broadway
Blue won his third in a row for driver/trainer Barry Treen
and owners Verve Racing Stable. Headliner went the mile in
1:57.
Triple Play, trained and driven by
Serge Masse, also won his third straight. The three-year-old
son of Cambest is owned by Jim Vinnell and Wayne Burwash.
MASSE, DAVIS SHARE HONORS: Serge
Masse continued on his early-season roll at Fraser Downs but
last week he had company at the top of the heap of the
driver/trainer statistics.
Masse picked up five driving victories
– three on Thursday – to sustain his meet lead. He now has
20, four more than perennial leader Bill Davis, who also had
five last week. He was paced by four victories on Saturday.
Dave Hudon, with three wins Friday, was
next with a total of four while Jim Marino had three.
Deadlocked with two were: Barry Treen. Gord Abbott, Jim
Burke, Dave McKellar and Scott Knight.
It must be stakes time, no it is stakes
time, and Andy Anderson led all trainers with a handful of
wins. Hudon, Masse and Bob Merschback had four apiece, while
Wayne Isbister, Clint Warrington, Davis and Greg Beneen had
two.
GET PEEK AT YEARLINGS: The B.C.
Standardbred Breeders Society’s Yearling Sale will have an
added touch this year.
An on track preview has been added to
the format of the sale, which is set for Nov. 23 in the
Cloverdale Agriplex. Consigners will jog their horses on the
track from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 20.
Anyone interested in viewing the
yearlings will be welcome to watch the parade of horses from
the Upper Clubhouse.
Meanwhile, the pedigrees for the sale
are now available on line. Going to the B.C. Standardbred
Association web site, clicking on the sale site and then
clicking on the name of the yearling in question can access
them.
The printed catalogues are also now
available. Anyone interested in receiving a copy in the mail
should call or e-mail the BCSA with their request or the
catalogues can also be picked up in person at the
backstretch office.
The Society expects to have some mares
in foal for the sale. The pedigrees of these horses will be
posted at a later date. Bill Pambrun, the society’s
president, is at the Harrisburg sale in the eastern United
States to bring back a small number of mares in foal.
The first horse at the yearling sale
will enter the ring at 2 p.m. on the sale day. On that day
there will be a barbecue from noon to 2 p.m. in the
backstretch.
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