Noses apart in Fraser Preferred

If Only Id Known (Shadow Play) narrowly escaped a harness racing upset in the Fillies and Mares Preferred on Thursday (Dec. 7) as she prevailed in a photo finish.

The mare, looking for back-to-back Preferred wins, got a pocket ride at the hands of Scott Knight. Century Mach (Kelly Hoerdt) cut :27.4, :57.3, and 1:26.2 splits on the front but came under attack from If Only Id Known and Pirate Booty (Terry Kaufman) in the stretch. The pair soared together, getting by in the final meters, and If Only Id Known held off Pirate Booty by a nose for the victory in 1:55.1. Century Mach never quit and was beaten a half-length.

IF ONLY ID KNOWN REPLAY

If Only Id Known has won her last three starts after 12 losses to begin the season. Christopher Lancaster conditions the mare and co-owns her with Velda Olding of Abbotsford. The five-year-old has taken 16 victories and $173,693 from 73 lifetime outings.

Also on the card, Mary Murphy Memorial Final champ Red N Ready (Betterthancheddar) tallied her seventh win in 10 tries this year. The rookie three-year-old got up by a head after a first-over march from third and completed the mile in 1:55.3 for Tyson Jacoby. Kyle Chadwick has trained the filly to $77,550 in earnings to date for Robert Chadwick of Surrey. The bulk of her bankroll came from her upset win in the Mary Murphy Memorial Final two weeks ago.

Hoerdt had four training wins on the night.

Fraser Downs racing continues on Friday, Dec. 8 at 7:00 p.m. PST.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink