Previewing the Fraser finale

The final day of live harness racing at Fraser Downs is tonight (Dec. 15). There are nine dashes on the card with a Pick 5 that starts in the fourth race.

Race 1

Willyrockit (Jk Royal Flush) is coming off a 10-1 upset victory and paced the mile in 1:55.3. The performance was good enough to become his new lifetime mark. He beat a couple of the horses that will again line up against him. He has finished in the top three in 11 of his 16 career starts.

Speakdollarsncents (Artspeak) draws the rail and will be able to set himself up perfectly for the race. He tends to enjoy the pocket trip but hasn’t been able to turn that into wins. He only has two wins this year, and the last one came on Sep. 21

The 2-1 favourite, Catch Me Oliver (Mystician), had a down race last time. He finished fourth behind Willrockit, Speakdollarsncents and Ara You Crazy. I expect a bounce back soon, but this will be a tough race.

Race 2

 Even though he has drawn the far outside, Yenoh Who (Domitian Hanover) has an excellent chance to repeat. He went wire-to-wire against this class in 1:57 last time. He has never drawn post position seven before, so he might jump right to the front if available.

Buddyville (Huntsville) finished third, just behind Yenoh Who and Rilkoff last time out. He won the race in 1:58.0, his fourth win of the year. He draws the post position two, which he has never drawn before. What he does with somewhat easy access to the inside will be interesting.

Rilkoff (Shadow Play) is the 2-1 morning line favourite, even though he lost last time out to Yenoh Who. He only has two wins in 2023, and the last one came at Century Downs in August. He does have back-to-back second-place finishes and has 14 top-three finishes in 24 starts this year.

Race 3

The fastest lifetime mark belongs to Outlaw Duke Worthy (Blue Burner), who enters this race at 3-1. The 1:53.1 mile happened a couple of weeks ago at Fraser Downs. It was his 11th career win and 4th of the year. He likes to get to the front end early, and the inside post will surely help.

Mylittle Gingerman (Betterthancheddar) hasn’t won since October but has posted similar times as Outlaw Duke Worthy. He already has five wins in 2023 and has finished in the top three 14 times in 23 starts.

Bay Street Buddy (Betterthancheddar) won his last race in 1:55.1. It was his fifth win of the year and tenth in his lifetime. His lifetime mark of 1:53.4 is very competitive with the other favourites.

Race 4

Rum N Raisins (Custard The Dragon) has won three of his last four races. His lifetime mark is 1:52.2, which he did at Fraser Downs in September. He has eight wins this year and 20 top-three finishes. The gelding is a 9-5 favourite for a reason.

Sunset Rider (Vertical Horizon) has been runner-up to Rum N Raisins in the last two races. He drew the rail, but that didn’t help him last time, as he still finished second. His lifetime mark is 1:53.3, which is very competitive.

With only one win this year, Minnekhada Joe (Vertical Horizon) has odds at 9-2, and his third-place finish last time likely helps with that. He has already lost to Rum N Raisins a few times, but he tends to finish near the top.

Race 5

Christopher Linford earned his first on 2023 last time out with Everyones Hero (Bettors Delight) in 1:57.4. Before that, he had back-to-back second-place finishes. His lifetime mark is 1:55.4, which was done at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Million Reasons (Vertical Horizon) has finished in the top three in her last six starts. She is no stranger to the outer post positions but tends to go to the front early. She will be tough to beat if she matches her lifetime mark of 1:56.3.

At 9-2, Sammy Santanna (Santanna Blue Chip) is the next favourite according to morning line odds. He recently has found himself near the top.

Race 6

Came A Cavalier (Domitian) is moving to a lower class and getting the rail. He leads the field with 11 wins this year, and his lifetime mark of 1:54.4 is competitive with his competitors. His last win came a few weeks ago in a $5000 claimer, and he paced the mile in 1:56.3.

Chaseminkifyourdare (Mystery Chase) found himself in the pocket on his last outing for the entire race and held on. The nine-year-old gelding has been winless since May, when he achieved his new lifetime mark of 1:54.4.

Coming off from being scratched, Shales Storm (Test Flight) has received a well-earned rest. He won back-to-back races but followed that up with an eighth before being scratched.

Race 7

Mickie Mantle (Custard The Dragon) has turned it up lately. The ABSS Super Final and B.C. Bred Stakes Final winner has won four in a row heading into Friday. His last race went in 1:53.2, and he won wire-to-wire.

Sunshine Boy (Sunshine Beach) snapped his win streak the last time he raced. An uncharacteristic fourth-place finish ended his streak of five wins. His fastest mile time during that period was 1:52.2, just shy of his lifetime mark by two-fifths of a second.

Since moving into the Preferred, Waiting Ona River (Jk Royal Flush) hasn’t been able to book a date in the winner’s circle, but he is usually near the top.

Race 8

With back-to-back wins heading into the race, Chuck You Farlie (Custard The Dragon) is one of the sharpest-looking pacers in the field. He is slightly moving up in class but has posted times very similar to the rest. He also has the most wins this year, sitting at 10.

Moving down slightly in class is Somepeopleneedtold (Ambro Baylor). The Manitoba-bred gelding has been racing with $12,000 claimers over his last five starts and has been competitive with one win. He has also proved that he can win in this class as well.

Light My Shadow (Shadow Play) is also moving down from the $12,000 claimers. He is the favourite at 2-1 and could be overbet by post time. He has a good chance of winning, but the potential value lies elsewhere.

Race 9

Custard Or Nothing (Custard The Dragon) is coming off a wire-to-wire win. He paced the mile in 1:57.1 for his third win of 2023. He had a tough go to finish off the three-year-old B.C. Bred Stakes, but after being scratched, has bounced back.

The morning line favourite at 2-1, Joltin Joe (Riverboat King) is winless this year. However, his recent mile times are why the odds maker gave him the love.

Angelsonthehorizon (Vertical Horizon) has two wins in her last three starts. The fastest of the two wins was 1:56, a new personal best. She has had four wins in the year and seven in her lifetime. The four-year-old mare will surely be in the mix.

Pick 5 (Races 4-8): 5/3,6/1/2,5/2,3,5

Fraser Down’s Finale Friday starts at  7:00 p.m. PDT.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink