Marino one-two in Fraser Open

Jim Marino harness racing trainees Western Summit (Vertical Horizon) and Moosette were a nose apart in the Fraser Downs Fillies and Mares Open on Monday (May 30).

Western Summit (David Kelly) was allowed an uncontested lead through :28, :57.3, and 1:26.2 panels. Moosette (William Tainsh, Jr.) began a first-over move as they entered the final quarter but did not make inroads until reaching the stretch. The mare gained rapidly as they approached the finish, but Western Summit found a final burst to keep her nose in front to win in 1:55.1. In High Cotton (Kelly Hoerdt) was a length behind those two in third.

WESTERN SUMMIT REPLAY

Surrey resident Marino owns Western Summit, a six-year-old that has won 12 times in 76 career starts and has earned $91,482.

Also on the card, Mr Glender (Custard The Dragon) won for the first time since 2020. The seven-year-old gelding trailed at the half but made a three-wide charge on the final turn for Hoerdt and got up to lower his lifetime mark to 1:57.4 in a narrow victory. The James Burke-trained and -owned gelding broke a 29-race losing streak with the win.

MR GLENDER REPLAY

Gray Sea (Custard The Dragon) made up seven lengths in the stretch to win her debut by a neck in 2:02. John Vukelich drove the Gordon Abbott trainee for Seaspray Stables of Nanaimo, which bred the three-year-old grey filly.

GRAY SEA REPLAY

Joe Dimagio, a three-year-old stakes-winning son of Custard The Dragon, also scored with a late rally to extend his winning streak to four in a 1:55.3 victory. Hoerdt, a resident of Beaumont, drives, trains, and co-owns the colt. Blair Corbeil, who also lives in Beaumont, shares ownership of the six-time winner. Joe Dimagio has made $68,726 in 14 lifetime starts. He won the $61,875 Keith Linton Memorial in his prior start on May 8.

JOE DIMAGIO REPLAY

The same connections also got home Armycaptin Hanover (Captaintreacherous), who ended a spell of near-misses with a wire-to-wire victory in 1:53.1 in the Open for horses and geldings. The six-year-old gelding had finished second or third in seven straight starts after his most recent win on Feb. 6. He is 23-for-89 lifetime with a bankroll of $161,351.

ARMYCAPTIN HANOVER REPLAY

Alina Macleod, a Langley-based trainer, won for the first time this season in her 27th start. Mystic Hunter, a sophomore gelded son of Mystician, broke his maiden for the conditioner with a start-to-finish performance from post seven timed in 1:56.4. Macleod trains him for Cody Easton of Abbotsford.

MYSTIC HUNTER / ALINA MACLEOD REPLAY

There were no winning tickets in the late pick five; the $25,292 pool will carry over to the track’s next card on Monday, Jun. 6.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink