BACH, BIGGIRL BEST OF BEST
Despite an outside post and an off
track, Armbro Bach was impressive in rolling to his second
straight victory last Saturday at Fraser Downs.
Bach, a five-year-old son of Village
Jiffy, won the claiming $35,000 (non-winners of $7,500 last
six) event by half a length for the 20th win of his career.
Bach, with Dave McKellar in the sulky,
was farthest out in the field of six and was farthest back
(6½ lengths) at the half-mile post. He came second over but
was still only fifth (four back) at the three-quarter mark.
A fine 28.4 second last quarter on the sloppy, off two
seconds, track led to his victory in 1:57.4.
Stablemate Red Star Senator, part of
the 2-5 favored entry, went to the front from the gate and
(despite No. 5 post) held on for second with Accent Seelster
third.
Armbro Bach, who is owned by Robert
Murphy and trained by Bob Merschback, now has career
earnings of more than $230,000.
It was a good day for Murphy and
Merschback as their Red Star Biggirl captured the weekend’s
top event (claiming $15,000 to $20,000 and non-winners of
seven races lifetime) for fillies and mares.
Biggirl, a three-year-old by
Grinfromeartoear, went gate to wire from the outside seven
post, for a 2¾ length victory in 1:57.3. Jim Burke, driving
the starry sophomore for the first time, piloted the 3-5
favorite to her seventh victory in eight career starts.
Jimmy Jams Jubilee was second all the
way while Hf Percy closed strongly for third, another three
lengths back.
Biggirl won all five of her starts, and
$49,210, as a two-year-old in 2005. This year she has two
wins and a second with one victory coming in the Delta Plate
final. She has career earnings of more than $70,500.
DUSTY MAKING AMENDS: Red Star
Dusty is obviously making up for lost time.
Remember that the five-year-old son of
Just Camelot who was so successful early in his career but
then did not win for 51 straight starts.
Now he is winning often and strongly.
Trained by Ann Cooper and driven by Tim Brown, Dusty
captured his fourth in a row last Friday and lowered his
lifetime mark – for the second successive week – this time
to 1:56.4.
Law Of The Yukon, a five-year-old son
of Fit For Life, waited until his 13th start of the year to
get a win but it was sharp as he covered the mile in a
career best 1:56.2 for trainer/driver Dave Hudon.
Goldies Eldorado won his fourth in 12
starts in 2006. He was timed in 1:56.4, his best in more
than two years and not bad for a 10-year-old son of Reckless
Regard trained and driven by Scott Knight.
Better Best maintained a strong showing
so far in 2006 by winning her third straight last Saturday
with driver Jim Marino. The eight-year-old daughter of
Cambest has an 11-4-3-2 mark this year for trainer Wayne
Isbister.
Daves Showboat, a five-year-old son of
Deamons Bell, who had a career best time of 1:58.1 the
previous week, made it two straight victories for trainer
Ken Dorman and driver Andy Arsenault.
Dal Reo Millee, a six-year-old daughter
of Scruffy Hanover, passed the $100,000 mark in career
earnings with a win for trainer Helmut Ratz.
I The Undersigned, a seven-year-old
daughter of Thatll Be Me trained by Wayne Isbister, won her
second in a row, the 25th of her career and ran her 2006
mark to 11-5-2-3.
Fast N Lucky (3, Dancing Puddles) set a
lifetime mark of 1:59.3 two weeks ago and then came back
with his second straight win for driver Jim Burke and
trainer Heather Burke.
Tackman, a three-year-old son of Dal
Reo Hop Sing, lowered his career best time to 1:57.2 (the
second straight week he beat his time) and won his second
consecutive race last Sunday for trainer Mike Glover and
Marino.
Tackman was just one five new lifetime
marks made Sunday. The others: Dal Reo Tiarra (3, Safe N
Rich) covered the mile in 1:59, Phantom (5, Bomb Rickles) in
1:58.2 (winning after being blanked for 34 starts through
2005 and 06), Dr Herr (10, Beach Towel) in 1:58 and Tahuya
Lucky Lady (4, Bh Dominator) in 1:59.2
MARINO WIDENS LEAD: Jim Marino
widened his lead atop the Downs driver win standings,
picking up seven victories last weekend.
Marino now has 123 for the meet, 12
ahead of Bill Davis, who is now competing in Alberta, while
Tim Brown is next with 80.
Brown joined Jim Burke and Scott Knight
with three wins last weekend, while Dave Hudon, Gord Abbott,
Andy Arsenault and Serge Masse had two apiece.
Wayne Isbister paced all trainers with
four triumphs last weekend. Bob Merschback, Barry Treen,
John Currie, Erik Neyhart and Knight had two each.
VINNELL HEADS BCSA: Jim Vinnell
was chosen as president of the B.C. Standardbred Association
by members of the board at the recent annual general
meeting.
Others to be elected as officers were
Scott Knight, vice president and Fred Zaitsoff,
secretary/treasurer.
At the meeting Gar Campbell announced
his resignation from the board and, following the procedures
of the constitution the next available and willing candidate
(Zaitsoff), from the recent election of directors, was
called upon to complete the term.
All the committees of the board will be
restructured at the next board meeting, which is to be held
April 10.
GCGC ADDS ROBERTS: Great
Canadian Gaming Corporation confirmed last week that it has
made two major appointments at Flamboro Downs and Georgian
Downs.
Bruce Barbour, already announced as
GCGC's newly appointed vice president for racing operations
in Ontario, will be responsible for the day-to-day duties at
Flamboro Downs in Dundas, Ont. Barbour replaces former
general manager Gerard Spoor.
In addition, Chris Roberts has been
appointed as director of operations at Georgian Downs in
Innisfil, Ont. Roberts replaces outgoing general manager
Dominic Parravano. Roberts was most recently the editor of
Standardbred Canada's Trot Magazine.
“We certainly recognize the efforts of
Dominic and Gerard with Georgian and Flamboro,” Chuck
Keeling, vice president of Racing Operations for GCGC, told
Trot Insider. “It is not a reflection on them or their
contributions, we simply wanted to put together a team of
people to go forward with the business.
“We've spent time studying and
analyzing the business and simply felt we wanted a certain
team of people.”
RIVER ROCK’S RACEBOOK OPEN:
Canada's newest simulcasting venue was unveiled at Western
Canada's largest casino and resort March 20, when Richmond's
River Rock Casino Resort opened The Racebook at River Rock.
The Racebook at River Rock offers
simulcast wagering from most of the world's most popular
racetracks including Fraser Downs, Hastings Racecourse,
Georgian Downs, Flamboro Downs, Woodbine, Sha-Tin/Happy
Valley Racecourses (Hong Kong), Japan, Australia, Santa
Anita, and Hollywood Park. Guests will also be able to wager
on heralded races including The Kentucky Derby, Preakness
and Belmont, and Breeder's Cup.
The Racebook at River Rock features 18
flat screen monitors, seating for over 180 enthusiasts, full
food and beverage amenities and dedicated self automated
betting machines.
(Great Canadian Gaming)
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