Jewels Dragon fierce in opening day Fraser return

Six-year-old Jewels Dragon (Custard The Dragon) visited Fraser Downs for the first time since his three-year-old year and captured the Open Pace as the track began its winter harness racing meet.

David Kelly flung the horse forward from post five and acquired the top spot in a :26.2 first quarter. His rivals allowed him a single-file second panel, completed in :56, before Fraser powerhouse Armycaptin Hanover (Kelly Hoerdt) began to bear down first-over.

Jewels Dragon pushed away by two lengths entering the lane and rolled to the wire to score with Armycaptin Hanover in pursuit all the way home.

Armycaptin Hanover was one-and-a-quarter lengths behind as the clock stopped in 1:52.4. Mach Steady (John Abbott) finished third.

JEWELS DRAGON REPLAY

Jewels Dragon, trained by David McKellar, is now 24-for-101 lifetime and has earned $246,045. He spent most of his career in Ontario after leaving Western Canada in late 2019. Paul Sanders of Surrey acquired the gelding last month.

Fraser Downs will follow a Wednesday-Thursday weekly schedule until switching to Sundays and Mondays in mid-October.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink