Buddy Knocks stays perfect in BC-bred Stakes

Buddy Knocks (Betterthancheddar) made it three wins from as many starts to start his harness racing career as he took the second leg of the BC-bred Stakes Robert Millbank Memorial on Thursday (Oct. 5) at Fraser Downs.

The gelding left alertly from post seven on the outside and landed in the pocket behind Phone Nine One One (Brandon Campbell). The latter led the field of two-year-old pacing males through fractions of :27.2, :58.1, and 1:27.

Moneybags (Rod Therres) brought a challenge from the outside nearing three-quarters, but he backed down as they turned for home. Buddy Knocks awaited clearance from the pocket and swung out at the top of the stretch. He then chased down Phone Nine One One and drew clear by three-quarters-of-a-length for the win in 1:55.

Iknowbetter (Kelly Hoerdt) closed to within a length, finishing third.

BUDDY KNOCKS REPLAY

Buddy Knocks has won both starts in the BC-bred Stakes and was successful on debut on Sep. 14. Therres trains the freshman, who has now earned $18,000, for Veikko Pajunen of Vancouver. The gelding was a $42,000 BC Sale purchase.

In the second division, Wannabeabigstar (Shadow Play, Campbell) kicked home off a long first-over march to get up by a half-length in 1:54. His fast final quarter got him by pacesetter Nothing Bugs Me (Therres), who held second. Pocket-tripper Key Dragon (Knight) was third.

WANNABEABIGSTAR REPLAY

Wannabeabigstar is also perfect in the series and is two-for-three overall. He has earned $16,500 for J J J Stables of Prince George and Jim Marino and Paul Sanders of Surrey. Marino conditions the rookie.

Racing at Fraser Downs will continue at 6:00 p.m. PDT on Friday, Oct. 6.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink