Side Piece stars again in BC-bred Stake

Side Piece (Shadow Play) dominated her harness racing opponents and lowered her lifetime mark in the second leg of the Mary Murphy BC-bred Stake for three-year-old pacing fillies on Thursday (Sep. 21) at Fraser Downs.

The filly steadily pressed to the front after starting third and completed her mission as the field approached three-quarters. She distanced herself from her rivals on the final turn and streaked away by seven-and-a-half lengths to punctuate her 1:52.4 victory. Custard Or Nothing (Rod Therres) proved second-best, holding off Crown Princess (John Abbott) for third.

SIDE PIECE REPLAY

Side Piece has won both legs of the Mary Murphy and is five-for-six this season. The Jim Marino-trained filly won the Penny Bath Memorial in May and finished second to powerhouse G Ts Skyla in the Gord and Illa Rumpel Memorial. Side Piece has earned $155,542 and seen the winner’s circle nine times in 12 career starts for J J J Stables, which co-owns her with Marino.

The second leg of the Robert Murphy Memorial, the companion BC-bred Stake to the Mary Murphy, required two divisions. Mickie Mantle (Custard The Dragon) captured the first split with a late surge to score in 1:52.1, the fastest time of the BC-bred Stake so far. It was a new lifetime best and an eighth career victory for the colt, who has now banked $138,878. Kelly Hoerdt steered Mickie Mantle, whom he trains and co-owns with Fred Gilbert of Brandon.

MICKIE MANTLE REPLAY

Domi (Living It Up) repeated his first leg win with another coast-to-coast victory in the second division. He completed the mile in 1:54.1 and was two-and-a-half lengths the best over Lukes Proclamation (Hoerdt). Domi gave Campbell and Marino a stakes double with the win and raised his career earnings to $80,905. The gelding, owned by J J J Stables, Marino, and Paul Sanders, has tallied eight times in 19 tries.

DOMI REPLAY

In the night’s Fillies and Mares Preferred, Miss Itunes (Mystery Chase) broke the track record as she soared to a  victory by 10-and-a-quarter lengths. She paced the mile in 1:51.2 for Phil Giesbrecht, lowering the standard for an aged mare at Fraser Downs. The previous record, 1:51.4, was jointly held by Cays Blessing, Paperback Thriller, and In High Cotton. The historic performance was also the mare’s 100th career start and her 20th win. The six-year-old, trained by Richard Lancaster, has earned $216,063. Donna Wyse of Rocky View County owns the mare.

MISS ITUNES REPLAY

Miss Itunes’s victory completed a driving triple for Giesbrecht. He shared the day’s top honours with Campbell.

Fraser Downs will host its next card on Thursday, Sep. 28.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink