Record-tying performance in Fraser Open

In High Cotton (Somebeachsomewhere) equaled the Fraser Downs harness racing track record for an aged pacing mare on Thursday (May 4) as she captured the Fillies and Mares Open.

She started widest from post five and stuck to the outside through the :26.3 opening panel with Dave Hudon working hard to put her on top. The mare got there before three-eighths and completed the half in :55.1.

Odds-on favourite Century Mach (Scott Knight) proved unable to hang from the pocket, but track record holder Miss Itunes (Brandon Campbell) moved up to challenge as In High Cotton sped through three-quarters in 1:23.1. The pair were flat out down the stretch, but Miss Itunes never advanced beyond the leader’s wheel, and In High Cotton rolled home to tie the record in 1:51.4.

Miss Itunes was a length-and-a-quarter adrift at the finish. Century Mach finished third.

IN HIGH COTTON REPLAY

Cays Blessing initially set the 1:51.4 standard for aged mare pacers in 2019. Paperback Thriller did it again in 2020, and Miss Itunes joined them in October 2022. In High Cotton, the latest to tie it, is now 14-for-70 with $162,667 in career earnings. The record clocking was a new mark for the five-year-old. Kelly Hoerdt trains her and co-owns her with Blair and Erna Corbeil of Beaumont.

Mohawk regular Phil Hudon, in town for closing weekend, picked up a couple of wins on the card. He scored with Forever Furley in the fifth and Keep It Dirty in the eighth. The Winnipeg native is listed on eight drives on Friday, including one in both $50,000 stakes.

Campbell, as usual, was the day’s top reinsman with four wins.

Fraser Downs will complete its meet on Friday, May 5. Racing will begin at 6:00 p.m. PDT for the card featuring the $50,000 Penny Bath Memorial and $50,000 Keith Linton Memorial.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink