Sophomore B.C. Bred Stakes continue at Fraser Downs

Harness racing action returns to Fraser Downs on Thursday (Nov. 16) with a nine-dash card. The feature event of the evening is the third leg of the B.C. Bred Stakes. The three-year-old fillies will have one division, and the boys will be split into two groups.

RACE 7: BC BRED STAKES #24 3YO FILLIES 3RD LEG – $20,000         

1. Kahala Storm (15-1)                            
2. Westcoast Captive (6-1)                         
3. Side Piece (4-5)                                
4. Heart Of A Dragon (20-1)                      
5. Diva Amour (12-1)                               
6. Crown Princess (8-1)                            
7. Custard Or Nothing (10-1)                                    
8. Red N Ready (9-2)                                               

Side Piece (Shadow Play) has been nearly perfect this year and hasn’t lost a race since August! She has seven wins and one second-place finish. Her only blemish came in the Gord and Illa Rumpel Memorial Stake at Century Downs. The brightest feather in her cap was the 1:53.1 mile she posted while claiming the Century Casino Filly Pace. That isn’t even the fastest mile of her career. She won at Fraser Downs in 1:52.2 in the first leg of the B.C Bred Stakes. She has proven she can win from any post position and spot on the track. Side Piece should be the heavy favourite at post-time.

Red N Ready (Bettarthancheddar) will be making her debut in the B.C. Bred Stakes on Thursday. She has been on a roll herself this year. She has won five times in seven starts. Red N Ready finished sixth in her debut but in the top two in the next six consecutive starts. She must improve her lifetime mark of 1:55.1 to keep up with the favourite. The sophomore filly teams up with Phillip Giesbrecht as she searches for some valuable points before heading into the final.

Westcoast Captive (Captive Audience) has visited the winner’s circle three times, and she put up a new lifetime mark of 1:55.3 in her last win. She had finished fifth in both prior legs of the B.C. Bred Stakes. Now, she can improve her form before heading into the finals.

My Picks: 3-8-2

RACE 8: BC BRED STAKES #24 3YO COLTS AND GELDINGS 3RD LEG 1ST DIVISION – $15,000 

1. Rum N Raisins (9-5)                         
2. Lukes Proclamation (4-1)                     
3. More Monet (8-1)                               
4. Yenoh Who (20-1)                            
5. Rilkoff (10-1)                                 
6. Domi (6-5)                                  
7. Buddyville (6-1)                                

Domi (Living It Up) will return after almost two months off. He is used to extended periods away from racing, and it has done him good. He has only made four starts Since May, three of which have been wins. Domi’s lifetime mark 1:53.3 was achieved at Fraser Downs in the Kieth Linton Memorial. His last two starts were in the B.C. Bred Stakes and they were both wins as well. Domi has been challenging to beat lately and has proven that he can take time off without affecting his performance.

Rum N Raisins is the most race-tested horse in the field (Custard The Dragon). He will be making his 33rd career start and 26th of the year on Thursday. Rum N Raisins has won three of his last seven starts and has never finished worse than second place. During that streak, he also posted his new lifetime mark of 1:52.2 at Fraser Downs.

Lukes Proclamation (Captive Audience) is the second most race-experienced horse in the field. He’s made 31 starts, and 23 have happened this year. He only has one win this year, in March at Cal Expo. Lukes Proclamation paced the mile in 1:57.2, which just missed matching his personal best of 1:57.1. His lifetime mark came at Fraser Downs during his rookie campaign. He has a third and a second-place finish in the B.C. Bred Stakes so far and will be looking to solidify a spot in the finals.

My Picks: 6-1-2

RACE 9: BC BRED STAKES #24 3YO COLTS AND GELDINGS 3RD LEG 2ND DIVISION -$15,000 

1. Promising Shadow (10-1)                          
2. Chief Is Boss (15-1)                             
3. Usual Suspect (5-1)                             
4. Speakdollarsncents (8-1)                         
5. Mickie Mantle (6-5)                             
6. Catch Me Oliver (6-1)                       
7. Billy Buxton (12-1)
8. Dillon James (9-2)   

Mickie Mantle (Custard The Dragon) is coming off a big win in the ABSS Super Final and will also be looking to dominate British Columbia. He won at Century Mile with a 1:52.2 time, which just missed equalling his lifetime mark. His lifetime mark of 1:52.1 came in the second leg of the B.C. Bred Stakes. Mickie Mantle finished second in the first leg and likely locked up a spot in next week’s finals.

Dillon James (Mystician) also has a win in the B.C. Bred Stakes. His came in the first leg, and he paced the mile in 1:55.4. It was almost two months before he found the winner’s circle again. Dillon James posted a new lifetime mark of 1:54.4 two weeks ago. It was his fourth win of his career and third of the year. He will line up from the far outside on Thursday and must battle hard for early positioning.

Usual Suspect (Custard The Dragon) hasn’t won since he achieved a new lifetime mark of 1:57.0 in April. Since then, he has consistently earned cheques anytime he lines up behind the gate. His last start was the only third time he did not add to earnings in his career. He finished second and third in the B.C. Bred Stakes to this point.

My Picks: 5-8-3

Fraser Downs kicks off at 7:00 p.m. PDT on Thursday (Nov. 16)

For complete race entries, click here.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink