Shadow Play gelding fastest in rookie BC-bred Stake

Wannabeabigstar (Shadow Play) set the fastest time of the five BC-bred Stake divisions on Thursday (Sep. 28) at Fraser Downs in a display of British Columbia’s two-year-old harness racing talent.

The gelding took the pocket for Brandon Campbell in the second split of the Robert Millbank Memorial, the series for two-year-old males. Iknowbetter (Scott Knight) cut the first three panels in front of him, and Wannabeabigstar, trailing into mid-stretch, soared late to catch the pacesetter in 1:54.2. Iknowbetter was a half-length short of victory. Outlawstaythcourse (John Abbott) circled from sixth to third and paced the fastest final quarter.

WANNABEABIGSTAR REPLAY

Wannabeabigstar finished second on debut and was favoured in his Thursday win. Jim Marino trains the rookie and shares ownership with J J J Stables of Prince George and Paul Sanders of Surrey.

Buddy Knocks (Betterthancheddar) wired the field in 1:55.3 in the opening division. Pocket-tripper Phone Nine One One (Brandon Campbell) hounded him down the stretch but never pulled within a length-and-a-quarter. Mcmoney (John Abbott) passed opponents in the closing stages for third.

BUDDY KNOCKS REPLAY

The winner is perfect in two starts. He won his debut on Sep. 14 in 1:55.2 for trainer Rod Therres. Owner Veikko Pajunen of Vancouver purchased the gelding, the first foal from double BC-bred Stake champion Yoga Pants, for $42,000 at the BC Sale.

Nothing Bugs Me (Custard The Dragon, Therres) displayed similar dominance as he bested the final group by five lengths. He made two moves to the front from post seven but put up every panel in the 1:56.1 victory. Key Dragon (Knight) was second-best, more than eight lengths clear of show finisher Pull The Trigger (Kelly Hoerdt).

NOTHING BUGS ME REPLAY

Nothing Bugs Me is two-for-two, having debuted successfully on Sep. 21. Therres trains and co-owns the colt with Ralph Therres and Colby Folster of Surrey and Blair Miller of Langley. The group brought Nothing Bugs Me home from the ASHA Yearling Sale with a $43,000 bid.

Over Ice (Custard The Dragon, Campbell) caught fire in the first division of the Betty Millbank Memorial for two-year-old fillies. She had things her way on the engine and uncorked a :27.3 final quarter to pull away to a seven-and-a-half length victory in 1:56.4. Lumby Dragon (Phil Giesbrecht) led the remainder home to finish second. Is He Watching (Rod Therres) was third.

OVER ICE REPLAY

Over Ice has a combined margin of victory of 15-and-a-half in her first two appearances. The J J J Stables homebred dominated in her debut by eight lengths and took an initial mark of 1:56. Marino trains the filly out of Arm In Arm, who foaled 2022 Mary Murphy Final winner Shoot The Whiskey.

Great Emotion (Domitian Hanover) capped off the BC-bred Stakes action with the night’s most lopsided victory. Her speed from her third-quarter brush carried her to an 11-and-three-quarter-length romp and a new mark of 1:56. Senorita Draco (Campbell) took the place spot over Martini Please (Rod Therres).

GREAT EMOTION REPLAY

The winning filly has now won two in a row after three losses to begin her career. Trainer Christopher Lancaster has overseen the form reversal for owner Michelle Danroth of Lumby. Great Emotion, a $2,500 buyback at the ASHA Yearling Sale, has now earned $11,030.

Miss Itunes (Mystery Chase) provided fireworks in the Fillies and Mares Preferred nightcap, bottoming out the field en route to a six-and-a-half-length domination and a new lifetime mark of 1:51.1. The mare, trained by Lancaster for Donna Wyse of Rocky View County, has earned a new speed badge in consecutive starts. She has beaten British Columbia’s best mares by a combined 16-and-three-quarter lengths in those wins, increasing her career earnings to $221,063. She has now won 21 of 101 lifetime races.

MISS ITUNES REPLAY

Fraser Downs continues racing on Friday, Sep. 29 with a first post of 6:00 p.m. PDT. The 11-race card will feature a Preferred Pace.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink