Itll Be Fine back in the win column

After three straight place finishes, Itll Be Fine (Hes Watching) nabbed his second harness racing win since returning to Western Canada in the Preferred-Handicap at Fraser Downs on Friday (Oct. 20).

The gelding accomplished his mission from the front-end, taking his five rivals through the first half with :29 and :59.1 panels unopposed. Outlaw C My Shadow (Constance Kolthammer) popped the pocket as they moved down the backstretch, forcing Kelly Hoerdt to call on Itll Be Fine for more speed.

The top two reached three-quarters in 1:26.2 separated by little, but Itll Be Fine rebuffed the favourite as they turned for home and opened up by three lengths. Mach Steady (John Abbott) made a race of it late but was a half-length short as Itll Be Fine paced to victory in 1:54.1.

Mach Steady was second and two-and-three-quarter-lengths clear of show finisher Vertical Squirt (Clinton Warrington).

ITLL BE FINE REPLAY

Itll Be Fine raced at Running Aces in Minnesota from May to August and returned to Fraser Downs in September. The gelding has won twice and finished second three times since for trainer Richard Lancaster.  The four-year-old has now tallied 13 wins and $138,207 in earnings from 52 lifetime starts. Lancaster co-owns him with Leslie Godlien of Langley.

Fraser Downs’s next card is set for Thursday, Oct. 26.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink