Pacers double up in Fraser Opens

Western Summit (Vertical Horizon) and Armycaptin Hanover (Captaintreacherous) both took the harness racing Open for their respective sex for the second straight week at Fraser Downs on Monday (Jun. 6).

In the mares clash, David Kelly controlled the tempo with Western Summit, who prevailed in a photo finish.

The six-year-old mare landed on the front with a brief burst and headed the field of seven through :27.2 and :57.3 fractions. Mystic Shadow (Bradley Watt) blitzed forward from the four-hole and pressured the leader as they moved through three-quarters in 1:26.1.

Western Summit cracked open a length-and-a-half advantage as they straightened for home, and she resisted Mystic Shadow’s second wind to take the victory in 1:54.3 by a head. Moosette (Scott Knight) finished third.

The Jim Marino-owned and trained Western Summit has won seven of her 15 starts this season. Her previous Fillies and Mares Open winning margin was also narrow; she beat Moosette by a nose. She’s 13-for-77 lifetime for $94,982 in earnings.

Kelly Hoerdt gave his trainee, Armycaptin Hanover, the easiest possible road to victory in the Open for horses and geldings.

He pushed the six-year-old gelding early to secure pocket positioning behind the favoured Kootenay Santanna (Kelly), who cut :26.2, :56.1, and 1:24 splits. The leader brushed off first-up attacker Ima Dude (Rod Therres), but he was unable to hold off Armycaptin Hanover, who uncorked his remaining pace to surge at the pylons and take the win in 1:52.3.

Kootenay Santanna had to settle for place for the second straight week. Ima Dude held onto the show spot.

Hoerdt trains Armycaptin Hanover and co-owns the gelding with Blair Corbeil. Both are residents of Beaumont. The horse has earned $164,851 and won 14 times from 90 career starts.

Kelly was the day’s top driver with four victories. Kelly and John Abbott had three apiece on the 14-dash program.

Fraser Downs’s next card is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. PDT on Monday, Jun. 13.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink