Last leg for B.C. Bred two-year-old’s before upcoming Finals

Two-year-old B.C.-bred harness racing horses will have their last chance to strut their stuff before the finals. There are two splits in the third leg of the Robert Millbank Memorial for colts & geldings and one split in the Betty Millbank Memorial for fillies. Both finals are set for Oct. 26 and will each have a purse of $100,000.

RACE 1: BC BRED STAKES #25 ROBERT MILLBANK MEMORIAL 2YO COLTS AND GELDINGS 3RD LEG (1ST DIVISION) – $15,000 

1. Wannabeabigstar (6-5)
2. Mcmoney (10-1)
3. Sylvester (15-1)
4. Buddy Knocks (7-5)
5. Outlawstaythcourse (5-1)

Wannabeabigstar (Shadow Play) won the event’s first and second legs. He also draws the rail, which always gives young horses the advantage. Funny enough, he only has drawn the rail once in his three career starts, and that was the only race he did not win. The odds maker believes he can do it this time as he paced his previous miles in 1:54.2 and 1:54.0. He has shown the best speed out of anyone in the field.

Buddy Knocks (Bettarthancheddar) also won in both prior legs and is perfect three-for-three. His times are slower as he’s posted mile times of 1:55.2, 1:55.3 and 1:55. He is about one second slower than Wannabeabigstar, but anything can happen on the track. The two faced off in a Maiden clash when the season opened at Fraser Downs, and Buddy Knocks walked away with bragging rights. Wannabeabigstar should get the last laugh this time but expect it to be close.

The only other colt in the field to have any wins to his name is Outlawstaythcourse (Shadow Play). He has won twice in his career but has yet to be able to fire in the B.C. Bred series. He finished third in the first leg but fell to fifth place last time out in leg two.

My Picks:1-4-5

RACE 2: BC BRED STAKES #25 ROBERT MILLBANK MEMORIAL 2YO COLTS AND GELDINGS 3RD LEG (2ND DIVISION) – $15,000 

1. Key Dragon (4-1)
2. Iknowbetter (2-1)
3. Phone Nine One One (9-5)
4. Oscar The Grouch (12-1)
5. Nothing Bugs Me (8-5)

The second division is more challenging, but I still have to go with the outside horse, Nothing Bugs Me (Custard The Dragon). He has two wins in three career starts, and one came in the first leg of B.C. Bred event. He finished second last time out behind Wannabeabigstar. His lifetime mark is 1:56.1, but he has shown greater speed when needed.

Phone Nine One One (Custard The Dragon) is another one you need to watch. He has finished second place three straight times. The last time, two times, he finished just behind Buddy Knocks, who drew into the first division. He has never faced Nothing Bugs Me yet, and the two are set to duel it out. Both will also have most of the money placed on them. This could be the race with a potential upset looming.

Iknowbetter (Bettarthancheddar) could be that horse to cause the upset. Even though he heads into the race at 2-1 odds, the other favourites will likely receive most of the wagers, Iknowbetter could be the money play. He has yet to win, too, but he has finished in the top three in all his career starts. He has proven he can keep up with Buddy Knocks, Wannabeabigstar and Phone Nine One One. Iknowbetter could be that hidden gem sliding up the inside late if the others tire out early.

My Picks: 5-3-2

RACE 3: BC BRED STAKES #25 BETTY MILLBANK MEMORIAL 2YO FILLIES 3RD LEG – $20,000 

1. Senorita Draco (12-1)
2. Lumby Dragon (8-1)
3. Great Emotion (3-1)
4. Is He Watching (10-1)
5. Over Ice (4-5)
6. Vintage Lass (6-1)

Over Ice (Custard The Dragon) comes in as a heavy favourite on the girl’s side of the bracket. She is a perfect three-for-three and has done nothing but win races wire-to-wire. This will be the farthest outside post position she has ever drawn in her brief career, but I doubt it will faze her. His lifetime mark was 1:55.2, and her slowest mile time was clocked at 1:56.4.

Great Emotion (Domitian) is the most experienced filly in the field. She has six starts and has visited the winner’s circle twice in that time. She has yet to find a way to beat Over Ice, but she is the one who has the best chance of overthrowing her. She was scratched last time with what was listed as a “stable error”. The extra time off will be good for Great Emotion as we head into the final leg before the finals.

I will throw Lumby Dragon (Custard The Dragon) into the mix on Thursday. She hasn’t been a factor since moving to Fraser Downs, but she had her moments when racing in Alberta. She won the Emerald and finished second place in the ABSS Starlet. I thought she would fight better in this field, but sometimes things don’t click. But I still have faith her time will come.

My Picks: 5-3-2

Fraser Downs kicks off at 7:00 p.m. PDT.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink