Millbank pacer takes award, Burke tops, prairie guy
checks in and more
HORSE OF THE MONTH....PLUS: Millbanks Award, a
five-year-old daughter of Legal Notice out of the mare
Natalie Almahurst, is the first winner for the Fraser Downs
winter meet of the IGA Plus Horse of the Month award.
Because of the early start to the meet, the award actually
covers more than the month of October and Millbanks Award
has enjoyed proceedings thus far. The Pauline
Zahara-Betty Millbank owned mare, racing in the fillies
and mare open division, has three wins, a second and two
thirds in six starts. With leading driver Tim Brown at the
controls for trainer John Zahara, Millbanks Award has had
consistently fine showings.
Congratulations from Cloverdale's IGA Plus and Fraser Downs.
BURKE BEST....Jim Burke took driving honors last
weekend with four wins including three on Friday. Dave
McKellar and Dave Hudon were next with three each. Leading
driver Tim Brown had one victory and now has 28 for the
meet, 12 ahead of Hudon and 15 ahead of Burke. Trainers
Chris Adamson, Jim Todd and Rene Goulet each had a training
double.
NICE PAYOFFS....On a track rated as sloppy, several big
payouts were a highlight of last Friday's card. The biggest
was a $16,614.20 triactor in the ninth race when 28-1 shot O
Metanastis finished second between winner The Millionairess
and Happy Lad. Another was a $1,089.50 exactor in the fourth
race when 30-1 shot Meadow Nipper won, paying $68.70, was
joined in the exactor by 10-1 shot Fastrackmac. How about a
$29.80 price for show when 70-1 shot Red Star Charming was
third in the second race. There was also a dead heat for
first Friday when Shesa Greek Dancer and The Color of Money
hit the wire together in the 12th race.
JUST ABOUT TIME....Heather Sifert and Carl Sibiga's
Broadway Time was
second in a $40,000 Stakes race for two-year-old colts
two weekends ago at Calgary's Stampede Park and Dave
Jungquist's Nazko Promise was second last Sunday in the
$51,087 Black Gold Alberta Sires Stake. Keith Clark's
three-year-old Mortified took the bulk of the cash as the As
Promised son rolled home with a length to spare in 1:56.
PEE TEE O A ONE....Magne Nesse's hard knocker of
knockers Pee Tee O showed that a long summer off in the B.C.
Interior is just what he likes. The six-year-old son of
Scruffy Hanover won his first start of the meet, after not
racing since mid April, edging the field in the winners over
battle last Friday. Pee Tee O beat Woodmere Windrop by a
nose, Lo Siento by a head and Whiskey Jack by a neck.
Trainer Nesse and Pee Tee O, along with owner Helen
Tattersall live in Williams Lake.
SASKATCHEWAN CHALLENGER....Another new trainer has
brought his stable to the Downs, this time coming from
Queensbury Downs in Regina. Jim Jeffers has Counts Atom and
Classic Black for owner Polly Odare of Saskatoon and Roliad
for owner Norm Glinz of Bottineau, N.D, Maza for owner
DaleLagerquist and Omemme for owner Eric Wondrasek, both
also of Bottineau.
HIS FEET ARE UP....Veteran Downs trainer Roy Wills
has ended his training relationship with the Lawrie
Musgrave-James Cairns Stable where he had such as Nordel
Bright Gem, Nordel Sam and Nordel Triumph. Wills says he
will just lean back and keep a relaxed eye on things for
awhile, which is probably a good idea since he will undergo
laser eye surgery while taking his break.
CLASSIC DRAW TIME....The fun for Fraser Downs' big
Breeders Classic show will again get under way early with
the draw (it will be business as well as fun) set for
Monday, Nov. 12 at Rafters Restaurant. The festivities will
get under way at 6 p.m. with wine testing and appetizers.
The draw for post positions for the four races will start at
6:45 with Dr. Sport of JR FM and Radio 600, Greg Douglas, as
emcee.
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