Campbell catches fire for six straight

Western Canada’s top harness racing driver Brandon Campbell dominated on Thursday (Mar. 23) at Fraser Downs, winning the last six of the eight races on the card.

After place finishes in the first two races – including his first loss behind Moosette since Mar. 2 in the Fillies and Mares Open Handicap, Campbell went on a six-race unbeaten run to close out the night.

He first orchestrated a fifth-to-first charge in the last eighth of a mile with Riverunsnappy (Riverboat King) in the third.

The mare, sitting sixth most of the way, made up six lengths down the lane to score in 1:57.1.

RIVERUNSNAPPY REPLAY

His next two were close finishes – in the fourth, Ontheroadtotexas (Sixdaysontheroad) and he hauled down leader Jeanielicious (John Vukelich) late after coming off cover and won by a neck in 1:54.2. He then held on by a nose with Western Summit (Vertical Horizon) in the fifth in 1:55.2 over the late-closing Stash The Cookies (1:55.2).

Campbell went wire-to-wire in the sixth and seventh with Aces In Play (Shadow Play, 2:01.3) and Chewing Ona Writer (Sportswriter, 1:59.1), respectively. The final victory came with Side Piece (Shadow Play) came via a second-quarter brush and a march to victory in 1:56.4.

SIDE PIECE REPLAY

With all races combined, Campbell finished with a margin of victory/defeat of +3¼ – a positive number, naturally, is rare. He has 71 wins in 188 starts this season for a strike rate of 37.8 per cent and a UDRS of 0.531.

Jim Marino provided the horse for half of Campbell’s wins – those of Western Summit, Aces In Play, and Side Piece.

Fraser Downs continues racing on Friday, Mar. 24.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink