Two sweeps in $100,000 BC-bred Stake finals

Over Ice (Custard The Dragon) and Wannabeabigstar (Shadow Play), using opposite strategies, both completed sweeps in their BC-bred Stake harness racing finals at Fraser Downs on Thursday (Nov. 28).

Over Ice was on the lead in an instant in the $100,000 Mary Murphy Memorial for sophomore fillies, and the rest was academic. The heavy favourite was never pressured, putting up :28, :58, and 1:25.4 fractions and cruising clear down the lane to win by three-and-a-quarter lengths in 1:54.1. Vintage Lass (Kelly Hoerdt) snagged the place spot, out-kicking show finisher Senorita Draco (Kelly Hoerdt).

OVER ICE REPLAY

Over Ice’s victory amounted to a title defense in the BC-Bred Stake series, having swept the Betty Millbank Memorial at two. She is five-for-16 this season for trainer Jim Marino. The sophomore has visited the winner’s circle 10 times and earned $232,313 in 21 career outings for owner/breeder JJJ Stables.

Wannabeabigstar, last off the wings, persevered through a parked-out mile to take the $100,000 Robert Murphy Memorial. Phil Giesbrecht left the gelding on the outside through first-half fractions of :27.2 and :57.2, receiving the cover of Nothing Bugs Me (Rod Therres) entering the second bend.

Wannabeabigstar progressed second-over through three-quarters in 1:26, launching three-wide on the final turn. He rolled up on the outside as Outlawstaythcourse (John Abbott) emerged up the passing lane, and those two fought all-out in the last 1/16th of a mile. Wannabeabigstar, relentless to the line, had the extra edge and put his head in front to prevail by a head in 1:55.

Buddy Knocks (Scott Knight), who led much of the way, held on for third.

WANNABEABIGSTAR REPLAY

Wannabeabigstar completed a stake final double for Marino and JJJ Stables. They co-own the gelding with Paul Sanders. The three-year-old has earned $89,505 and won six times in 14 lifetime starts.

Outlaw Spiced Rum (Blue Burner) went coast-to-coast in the Fillies and Mares Preferred. She repelled the first-up pocket-popper Ima Beach Diva (Allan Molloy), then held off In High Cotton (Kelly Hoerdt) down the lane to win by a length, stopping the clock in 1:54.3. In High Cotton was second over Gret Sea (John Abbott).

OUTLAW SPICED RUM REPLAY

Outlaw Spiced Rum, owned, trained, and driven by Rod Therres, has racked up 19 victories this season, including five in her past seven starts. The six-year-old is a 29-time career winner with $161,372 in the bank from 85 tries.

Giesbrecht won four races on the night.

Racing continues at Fraser Downs on Friday, Nov. 29 at 7:00 p.m. PST with a nine-race card featuring a Preferred Pace.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink