Itll Be Fine brings down Sunshine Boy

Itll Be Fine (Hes Watching) finally rained on the parade of Sunshine Boy, ending the latter’s five-race win streak in Friday’s (Dec. 8) Fraser Downs Preferred Handicap.

Itll Be Fine grabbed the lead from post four going into the first turn and put up the first quarter of :27.3 before letting Mach Steady (John Abbott) circle him from the pocket. The latter cut :56.4 and 1:25.2 middle panels with no movement as Sunshine Boy (Scott Knight) was content to sit last.

Itll Be Fine commenced his rally on the outside for Kelly Hoerdt with Vertical Squirt (Clinton Warrington) closing at the pylons. They gobbled up the leader in mid-stretch and battled to the line. Itll Be Fine produced the best final push and got his neck in front for the victory in 1:54.2.

Vertical Squirt was second, followed by Waitin Ona River (Kevin Anderson. Sunshine Boy charged at the end but could only manage fourth.

ITLL BE FINE

Itll Be Fine finished third in four of his past five starts, all races won by Sunshine Boy. Richard Lancaster trains Itll Be Fine, a four-year-old with 15 wins and $153,807 in earnings from 59 lifetime starts. Lancaster co-owns the gelding with Leslie Godlien of Langley.

The card also saw Christopher Linford pick up his first driving win since 2021. He piloted the Rod Therres-trained Everyones Hero (Bettors Delight) to a tight victory in a three-across photo in the third. It was the third win on the season for the sophomore gelding as he stopped the clock in 1:57.4. Linford’s last win on Nov. 17, 2021 was also a team-up with Therres and a narrow victory with three horses there at the wire as he took All Powered Up to the winner’s circle in 2:02.4.

EVERYONES HERO / CHRISTOPHER LINFORD REPLAY

Fraser Downs will host its penultimate card of the season on Thursday, Dec. 14.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink