ONE HARD-WORKING
SENATOR
Red Star Senator raced like a veteran
campaigner even though -- age-wise – he isn’t.
The four-year-old son of Presidential
Ball ignored his post – the outside seven – and action about
him, as he breezed to victory last Saturday in the premier
event (claiming $35,000, non-winners of $7,500 last six with
open pacers) of the weekend at Fraser Downs.
With Jim Burke in the sulky, Senator
won an early battle for the lead with Haras Cola Cola and El
Toro and went on to win by 3¾ lengths in 1:54.4. Colta Cola
stayed second all the way while Accent Seelster, a victim of
early interference, was third.
Ironically it was Seelster’s stablemate
El Toro, part of the favored 2-5 entry, who made the early
break and caused the interference. El Toro had moved up to
the main event after winning four straight.
Red Star Senator, who is owned by Mary
Murphy and trained by Bob Merschback, never is far from the
front at the finish. In 2006 he now is 10-3-2-3 with more
than $31,000 in earnings. In 2005, he was in the top three
in 22 of 29 starts and won more than $143,000.
COYOTE PROWLS: Coyote Hanover, a
six-year-old son of Western Hanover, captured his second
straight for trainer Wayne Isbister and driver Jim Marino
last Friday. Coyote Hanover, who was named aged horse of the
year for 2005 in Manitoba, covered the mile in 1:54.4, just
one tick off his life mark.
Law Of The Yukon, a five-year-old son
of Fit For Life, continues to heat up. He won his second in
a row for trainer/driver Dave Hudon, while lowering his
career best clocking for the second week in a row, this time
to 1:55.4.
Sunset Strip, a seven-year-old daughter
of Distinguishedbaron, picked up her fourth win of 2006 for
trainer/driver Scott Knight. In her previous start Sunset
Strip went over the $100,000 mark in career earnings.
Kootenay Finale, a four-year-old
daughter of Safe N Rich, won her second consecutive race for
trainer Kyle Chadwick and driver Grant Hollingsworth.
Moscow Dancer (g, 8 Armbro Moscow)
captured his 25th career victory for trainer
Heather Burke and driver Jim Burke.
Better Best is both of those and more.
The eight-year-old daughter of Cambest rolled to her fourth
straight victory last Saturday and boosted her 2006 record
to 12-5-3-2. Jim Marino has piloted her to the four straight
for trainer Wayne Isbister.
The same driver-trainer combination
worked for Cassava, a five-year-old daughter of Perfect Art
who made it two wins in a row and now is 11-3-1-3 in 2006.
Cher The Wealth (6, Wheelin Chance) is
another mare on a roll. She captured her third successive
win, her sixth win in her last seven starts and made her 06
record 12-6-1-1 for trainer/driver Tim Brown.
Brown drove Preferred Share to victory
for trainer Ann Cooper and now the six-year-old daughter of
Safe N Rich is 7-4-1-2 on the year.
Trainer Brown turned the driving over
to Jim Burke on Tnt Mattie and the result was a new life
mark of 1:56 for the four-year-old son of Distinguishedbaron.
Ill Be Doud (f4, Daylon Marshal) also
had a career best, a 1:58.3 for trainer/driver Scott
Knight.
Furious Five warmed up for the Stallion
Stakes by winning her second in a row in a new life mark of
1:56 last Sunday. The three-year-old daughter of Faldo
Hanover, trained and driven by Serge Masse, has a 10-4-1-2
mark in 2006.
Holly Rock, a seven-year-old son of
Witsend Fiddle, made it two straight victories for trainer
Bill Young. He was driven this time by Masse.
Warrawee Hero (c4, Camluck) paced the
mile in a career best 1:57.4 and Follow Your Dream (f3,
Western Ideal) did the same in 1:58.1.
BURKE ROLLS SEVEN: Jim Burke
started the weekend with three wins last Friday and kept on
a roll to lead all Fraser Downs drivers with seven wins when
the dust had settled.
Burke is fifth for the meet with 69
wins.
Jim Marino, the Downs’ winningest
pilot, had to settle for a logjam for runner-up at four
victories along with Tim Brown, Serge Masse and Scott
Knight. Barry Treen was at the Downs only on Saturday but
swept the two legs of the Stallion Stakes eliminations.
Five, count-em five, trainers tied for
the lead last weekend with three wins apiece: Heather Burke,
Treen, Knight, Bob Merschback and Wayne Isbister. Masse,
Brown and Ann Cooper had two triumphs each.
HAPPY MEN: Men’s Day was a
success last Saturday the Downs with plenty of smiling
faces, particularly Robert James and Rick Long.
James of Coquitlam won the draw for a
trip to the St. John’s Fishing Lodge while Long of
Abbotsford was the winner of tickets to the Vancouver
Canucks game.
Scott Marty showed the most prowess on
the putting green although it was not enough to take home
the $10,000 ultimate prize.
Marty, who is a golfer, was one of only
five (of hundreds) entrants who sank their first putt along
the long, uphill, slippery slope. He then was closest in the
putt-off to see who would try for the $10,000.
The green was lengthened (even Loren
Roberts, the boss of the moss, was shaking his head) and
Marty could not find the hole.
CHECK HARNESS HISTORY IN ATRIUM:
The B.C. Harness Racing Hall of Fame has begun to take shape
in the atrium of Fraser Downs.
Patrons are able to check many of the
trophies, plaques and other pieces of B.C. harness racing
history in three glass shelving units along the south wall
of the atrium.
-30-
