Therres sweeps $100,000 Millbank Memorials

Harness racing trainer/driver Rod Therres won two close finishes to sweep the $100,000 BC-bred Stake finals for two-year-olds at Fraser Downs on Thursday (Oct. 24).

The first victory came with Heavens Lil Dragon in the $100,000 Betty Millbank Memorial.

Therres sent out Heavens Lil Dragon from post three, putting her on top and cutting a :28.1 opening quarter. The filly led comfortably through middle splits of :59 and 1:28.3, and she came into the stretch with only Machnroll Fantasy (Scott Knight) able to mount a challenge.

Machnroll Fantasy bore down while drifting out as they sprinted for home and made it close late, but she missed by a neck as Heavens Lil Dragon held on to win in 1:57.4. Threecurtaincalls (Phil Giesbrecht) completed the triactor.

HEAVENS LIL DRAGON REPLAY

Heavens Lil Dragon is four-for-six with two place finishes and $70,125 earnings. The filly won her second-leg division of the BC-bred Stake and placed in the first. Therres shares ownership with Ralph Therres, KFC Farms, and the late Dairen Edwards.

The undefeated Fubar Bundy (All Bets Off) overcame post eight and won the $100,000 Robert Millbank in a three-across photo. Rod Therres fired the colt out to engage in a three-across speed duel throughout the :27.3 first quarter. Fubar Bundy wrested control at the top of the stretch for the first time and opened up a large cushion through the midway point in :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:25.

Fubar Bundy turned into the lane with a two-length advantage, but Odins Fury (Glenn White) closed in from the pocket. Westcoast Mccoy (Phil Giesbrecht) also rallied from third at the rail, and the trio battled to the line. Fubar Bundy reached the wire in time, holding off Odins Fury by a nose and Westcoast Mccoy by a neck in 1:54.4.

Odins Fury was second over Westcoast Mccoy.

FUBAR BUNDY REPLAY

Fubar Bundy, also owned by Ralph and Rod Therres, KFC Farms, and Edwards, is perfect through five starts. The colt has now earned $76,000.

Edwards passed away earlier this week. The wins were bittersweet for Therres.

“I think Dairen was with us tonight,” Rod Therres said in his post-race interview. “I think he might have moved the wire or something.”

Racing will continue at Fraser Downs on Friday, Oct. 25 at 7:00 p.m. PDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink