Fraser Downs opens meet with three-year-old stakes

Harness racing returns to Fraser Downs with a 10-dash card that features the first leg of the British Columbia-bred three-year-old stakes. Seven fillies draw into one split and will go for $20,000. While, nineteen colts and geldings were split into three races and will each have a $15,000 purse.

RACE 7 – BC BRED STAKES #24 3YO FILLIES 1ST LEG: $20,000

1. Kahala Storm (15-1)
2. Heart Of A Dragon (8-1)
3. Westcoast Captive (3-1)
4. Custard Or Nothing (7-2)
5. Diva Amour (6-1)
6. Side Piece (6-5)
7. Abbys Tapioca (10-1)

Side Piece (Shadow Play) is the heavy morning line favourite with 6-5 odds. She has yet to race much in 2023 but was on her game while out on the oval. She has won three in four starts this year and never finished worse than second place. Brandon Campbell hops in the bike and will look to add his $1.4 million in 2023 earnings.

If you’re looking for a play with a price attached, you should look at Diva Amour (Custard The Dragon). She wakes up with 6-1 morning line odds beside her name. Diva Amour’s lifetime mark is 1:56.2, but she has yet to win since May 5. Kelly Hoerdt will be in charge of driving duties on Thursday.

Westcoast Captive (Captive Audience) has two career wins and a lifetime mark of 1:56.2. She has been getting into trouble in her last couple of starts. Last time out, she broke down the stretch late, and in the race before that, she was placed due to interference. If Westcoast Captive behaves, she could quickly return to the winner’s circle. Her mile times have been competitive, but she seems to miss out on winning.

My picks: 6-5-3

RACE 6 – BC BRED STAKES #24 3YO COLTS AND GELDINGS 1ST LEG: $15,000

1. The Last Waltz (10-1)
2. Billy Buxton (12-1)
3. Mickie Mantle (8-5)
4. Domi (9-5)
5. Buddyville (3-1)
6. Pop N Like Pez (5-1)

It’s a straight coin toss between this race’s top favourites. However, I will take Mickie Mantle (Custard The Dragon). He’s only once twice in 2023 but was on the hottest pacers in British Columbia in 2022. Mickie Mantle won five straight last year and capped it off by winning the Robert Millbank Memorial Final. Kelly Hoerdt trains and will be in the bike.

Domi (Living It Up) has had a better 2023 with five wins and eight top three finished in ten starts. As a two-year-old, Domi had a tough time beating Mickie Mantle and now the two face off at Fraser Downs again. Brandon Campbell will be in the bike for trainer Jim Marino.

Pop N Like Pez (Custard The Dragon) is looking to get his first win of the year. He has yet to win since his first two career starts, which took place in August of 2022. His lifetime mark is 1:57.1, which he did at Century Downs. Phil Giesbrecht will try his best to put Pop N Like Pez in an excellent position to return to the winner’s circle.

My picks: 3-4-6

RACE 8 – BC BRED STAKES #24 3YO COLTS AND GELDINGS 1ST LEG: $15,000

1. Rilkoff (3-1)
2. Speakdollarsncents (6-1)
3. Dillon James (7-2)
4. Catch Me Oliver (4-1)
5. Son Of A Beach (5-1)
6. T N Custard (9-2)
7. Yenoh Who (10-1)

Catch Me Oliver (Mystician) has been nearly perfect in his young racing career. He has three wins in four starts but has not participated in a race since May. Last time out, he put up a new lifetime mark of 1:55.3 and might need to bring a performance like that to get the win. The time off could play a factor that steers bettors away from Catch Me Oliver, which could leave him at a reasonable price at post time.

Rilkoff (Shadow Play) gets the rail and is looking to bounce back after going off stride his last time out. He has picked up two wins this year, both at Century Downs. His lifetime mark is 1:54.3; he could hit that time again on Thursday. Brandon Campbell will have driving duties for Jim Marino.

My third choice in this race is Son Of A Beach (Sunshine Beach). He only has one win this year, which came at Fraser Downs in April. During the two-year-old stake season in British Columbia last year, he held his own. Son Of A Beach won a leg of the Robert Millbank Memorial last year but ended up fourth in the finals. His lifetime mark is 1:54.1, the fastest time on the field.

My picks: 4-1-5

RACE 9 – BC BRED STAKES #24 3YO COLTS AND GELDINGS 1ST LEG: $15,000

1. Rum N Raisins (3-1)
2. Outlawwesternstyle (10-1)
3. Usual Suspect (7-2)
4. More Monet (8-1)
5. Chief Is Boss (6-1)
6. Lukes Proclamation (9-5)

I like the rail horse, Rum N Raisins (Custard The Dragon). He had a few rough starts lately but did have a win at Century Downs in the time of 1:54.0 in July. That was the second win of his career, and will be looking forward to getting back into the winner’s circle at Fraser Downs. John Abbott will be in charge of the reins.

Lukes Proclamation (Captive Audience) only has one win this year, which came back in March at Cal Expo. He paced the mile in 1:57.2, one-fifth of a second slower than his best time as a two-year-old. Luke Proclamation is usually close to the front end and has finished in the top three nine times in 17 starts this year. Kelly Hoerdt will be looking for his 60th win of the year on Thursday and has a few good chances of doing it.

I will go with Usual Suspect (Custard The Dragon) to round out my top three. He has won four of his eight career starts and has a lifetime mark of 1:57.0. Usual Suspect has taken the summer off and hasn’t raced since May when he lined up in the Keith Linton Memorial. Brandon Campbell will be in the bike as his quest to reach $2 million in driving earnings for back-to-back years.

My picks: 1-6-3

Fraser Downs’ opening day card kicks off at 7:00 p.m.

For complete opening day race entries, click here.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink