Four straight for West Coast Beach

West Coast Beach (Sunshine Beach) circled from the back to win his fourth harness racing contest — and third Preferred — in a row on Friday (Nov. 22) at Fraser Downs.

Kelly Hoerdt had the gelding under a hold as the starting car left, and he dropped him back to seventh while odds-on favourite Sunshine Boy (Scott Knight) put up a :26.1 first quarter. West Coast Beach stayed put through the half in :54.4 before beginning his charge on the backstretch.

The gelding climbed forward uncovered past three-quarters in 1:22.4 and fanned three-wide as the field rounded the far turn. Sunshine Boy held the lead into deep-stretch with Whiplash Smile (Allan Molloy) relentlessly closing after a first-over trip. West Coast Beach had the best late pace though and passed both in the final meters to prevail by a half-length in 1:53.

Whiplash Smile nosed out Sunshine Boy for place.

WEST COAST BEACH REPLAY

West Coast Beach is nine-for-16 this season with six victories in her past eight outings. Rebecca Kanak trains the gelding and shares ownership with Timothy Gordon. The seven-year-old has compiled $213,459 in earnings and 32 wins from 98 lifetime starts.

Hoerdt and Molloy both scored three wins on the night.

The next card at Fraser Downs is set for Thursday, Nov. 28.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink