Fraser Preferred ends in tight finish

Sunshine Boy (Sunshine Beach) got up in the final strides of the Preferred Pace at Fraser Downs on Friday (Sep. 29) to win the harness racing contest by a nose.

The gelding pushed out from post five for Scott Knight and threw up a :27.1 first quarter on the lead. Itll Be Fine (Kelly Hoerdt) circled him from the pocket as they raced towards the stands, and the new leader reached the half in :57.

Redstone Arsenal (Dave Hudon) brought a first-over challenge to Itll Be Fine in the third panel but was not advancing as they reached three-quarters in 1:24.2. Sunshine Boy, locked in the pocket, had to wait for the passing lane, and he dug into the leader as they came down the stretch. Itll Be Fine battled to the end, but Sunshine Boy got his nose up in the final strides to score in 1:52.4.

Itll Be Fine was a strong second. Shir Gain (Tyson Jacoby) made up ground for third.

SUNSHINE BOY REPLAY

Sunshine Boy’s win was his 16th lifetime in 58 starts. He is two-for-three since moving to the Jim Marino barn and shifting to British Columbia from Alberta at the start of the month. The five-year-old, owned by J J J Stables of Prince George, Paul Sanders of Surrey, and Marino, has earned $209,128 lifetime.

The next card at Fraser Downs is set for Thursday, Oct. 5.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink