Harness News Update: Picks & Analysis for Fraser Downs March 28th

Another nine-dash harness card race will be held at Fraser Downs on Thursday (Mar. 28) night. Today’s spotlight will be on trainer, Jim Marino. 

Marino has already secured 20 wins this year and has earned over $122,000 in prize money. He had a career-high 99 wins in 2022 and followed that up with 78 wins last year. There are nine Marino-trained entries on the program set to go on the card.

One of Marino’s fillies, Senorita Draco (Custard The Dragon) is looking to get her first career win. She was competitive in the BC Bred Stakes for two-year-olds last year but couldn’t finish any higher than a second. This week, she drew the rail after having some time off.

 “I really like this filly,” said Marino. “I have had a little trouble with my three-year-olds being sick. She raced really well in her last start and finished second, but she spiked in temperature after. She is all cleaned up now but I’m not too sure what to expect from her.”

Marino also has two colts hoping to book their first trip to the winner’s circle. Phone Nine One One (Custard The Dragon) and Betterthanluck (Betterthancheddar) face off in the third race. Phone Nine One One finished second place on four occasions last year while Betterthanluck has only finished as high as third once in eight career starts.

“Betterthanluck is still learning how to race,” Marino said. “He will be a better three-year-old than a two-year-old. While Phone Nine One One is out of the mare, Phone Terror and she made just over half a million. He has shown a lot of speed, and he has been runner-up to a lot of the good colts here. He is a Custard (The Dragon), which tend to get better with age, and he could be a very good stake colt this year.”

One of Marino’s top mares, Hotpieceoface (Big Jim) just fell short in last week’s Filly & Mare Open. She led for most of the race but Hang On Sloopy passed late to win at 8-1.

HANG ON SLOOPY REPLAY

The two will face off again and the morning line odds surprisingly have Hang On Sloopy at 12-1 and Hotpieceoface at 9-2. The morning line favourite, Grey Sea was scratched due to illness last week but will be tough to beat if she is in her top form.

“I’ve had her (Hotpieceoface) for a very long time and she’s not really an Open mare. However, she does have tremendous gate speed and she’s been able to have her way at the front end. There are some very nice mares in the Open class so I’m not sure if she will be able to pull out a win in the Filly & Mares Open. Maybe if I can get her in a class lower, she will get back to her winning ways.”

My Picks

Race 1

Im A fireball (2) Draws better this time and will look to capitalize. Her only career win has come from an inside post.

Surprise My Shadow (3) Will look to battle for the early lead. Has shown late speed and could easily win.

Outlaw Cowgirl Up (7) Posted a 2:00.2 in qualifying mile and could win with a similar performance. Post position could be a negative factor.

Race 2

Senorita Draco (1) Has shown promise with the rail and has a good chance of earning her first career win. Has paced under 2:00 before and will need that to win.

Got Sugar (4) Finished second in her Fraser Downs debut. She stopped the clock at 1:57.2 which is a few seconds better than most of the field. Will be a battle down the stretch between the favourites.

Dali Dancer (7) Is coming off a 2:02.2 performance which earned her first win. Has shown faster times and should be in the mix.

Race 3

Phone Nine One One (8) He paced sub-1:57 miles late last year in the BC Bred Series. Anything similar to that will surely be good enough to win.

Outlaw Tuff Enough (6) Has one win in three career starts. He paced the winning mile in 1:59.1 but has shown he can go faster.

Its Time Iceman (3) Has the most starts this year and already has top-three finishes.

Race 4

Vintage Lass (1) Is perfect two-for-two this year. She won in 1:57.1 and 1:57 which are the fastest times in the field.

Martini Please (6) Also has two wins this year but did it in five starts. Her lifetime mark is 1:59.1 but has paced faster.

Kahala Storm (4) Hasn’t had top results as of late but her times are competitive with the favourites.

Race 5

Catchmegracefully (2) Is coming off a win in 1:57 but was scratched last week due to illness.

Positively Special (1) Comes in the race at 4-1 morning line odds but she has shown she can perform well after taking the early lead. Drawing post one should help her out greatly.

Outlawelectricblue (6) Has a hot start to the new year but has cooled off recently. Has two wins this year and the fastest mile was 1:57.1. She could win this race if an opening arises.

Race 6

Kootenay Cocoa (1) Perfect eight for eight in her career and has a lifetime mark of 1:55.1. Her one start this year was paced in 1:56.1.

B On The Hunt (5) She has one win in two starts this year and she posted 1:56 time. Her speed can win this race, but she has a tough young filly to battle.

Crown Princess (4) Usually competes well against but hasn’t shown the same late speed. Can be dangerous if the favourites underperform.

Race 7

Diva Amour (3) Has won five straight since moving back to Fraser Downs and has done it from any post position. She likes to go to the straight to the front and win wire-to-wire.

Rollin Withholly (7) She has three straight wins, and her times are a bit faster. However, post position will make it difficult to take the early lead which she too enjoys having.

Forever Furely (2) Finished in a dead heat with Rollin With Holly in early March. Has shown she can keep up with the best.

Race 8

Grey Sea (4) Is the morning line favourite but has yet to win this year. She was close before being scratched due to illness last week.

Hotpieceoface (6) Had a great performance in the Filly & Mare Open last week but finished second by a head. Has only one win this year but has finished second on four different occasions.

In High Cotton (2) Has been cursed with outside posts but has done well to overcome it. Now draws inside and could force the outside pressure to be caught out wide early.

Race 9

Beach Myst (6) only in the field to record a sub-1:56 mile recently. She has tallied three wins this year already.

Jet Juice (5) Has shown he likes front if he can get there. Will be hard from post five but draws inside other favourites.

Million Reasons (8) Gets the rail but will be coming from the second tier. Usually likes the front but could be hard to get early. Can win from the pocket as well.

Pick 5 (Races 4-8)

Post time is 10:00 p.m. EST.

For the complete race entries, click here.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink