BETTERFROMBEHIND A
STAKES MACHINE
Betterfrombehind
lengthened another winning streak last Sunday.
The five-year-old mare
captured the $25,000 Miss Cloverdale and by so doing
extended to four the number of years she has won a stakes
race at Fraser Downs.
The biggest proof of
that may be seen in the career earnings figure on her charts
-- $371,648.
Her latest win and
cheque was for owner Robert Murphy, who bought her from
breeders, and previous owners, J J J Stables and Mark and Al
Anderson, in late October.
Betterfrombehind, a
daughter of Kents On Nuke, was part of a Bob Merschback-trained
6-5 favored entry along with Westart Love. The latter had
the rail and took the lead from the start with
Betterfrombehind taking the two hole.
Furious Five, a 5-2
third choice, was third and they stayed that way for the
half before a first-up move by Hurricane Pat, part of a 3-2
second choice entry, flushed Furious Five.
Five, with
trainer/driver Serge Masse, moved to second outside at the
three-quarter pole and attacked Westart Love and driver Jim
Burke. However, as they turned for home Betterfrombehind and
driver Jim Marino were able to get through on the inside and
win the battle to the wire.
Betterfrombehind won
by 1¼ lengths in 1:56.1 with Love second and Furious Five
third.
The judges called for
an inquiry for interference in the stretch when Westart Love
slipped away from the rail but later ruled no and the result
stood.
The victory was the
25th lifetime for Betterfrombehind.
Marino admitted in the
winner’s enclosure, “She’s a nice horse to drive” although
he “took it cautious” on the backstretch because “she hasn’t
sat in the hole very much.”
The field of eight
included the best of the female gender on the grounds at the
Downs with the who’s who list also including fourth-place
finisher Lady Lola, Alldressedinvelvet, Coco Bongo and
Silvery Belle.
BLACKTIE
CELEBRATION: Armbro Blacktie won the battle of the big
boys (open and $35,000 claimers) in impressive fashion last
Sunday.
The six-year-old son
of Camluck, owned by Herb Boggs and Jerry Blanchet, and
trained and driven by Jim Marino, came from off the pace for
a narrow neck decision in a nifty 1:54.3.
Marino and Blacktie
let 1-2 favorite Red Star Senator and second choice (5-2)
The Tominator battle through the early stages. Senator had
the lead off the gate despite starting outside in the field
of six while Blacktie was fifth and still 6½ lengths back at
the half.
Blacktie, at 5-1, was
first-up and relentlessly worked his way up, using a strong
move in the stretch to grab top money. Senator was second
and 27-1 shot Haras Colta Cola third.
Blacktie now has a
2007 mark of 7-3-2-2 and has won more than $205,000 in his
career.
TREEN TOPS:
Paced by a triple on Saturday, Barry Treen led the way in
the driver derby last weekend.
Treen finished with a
six pack to edge Bill Davis by one.
Gord Abbott was next
at four while Scott Knight and Jim Marino had three each and
Dave Hudon, Tim Brown and Darren Howald had two apiece.
If one took away
Davis’ leading 48 wins for 2007 the battle would be verrry
interesting. Marino has 22, Knight 20, Treen 17, Abbott 15
and Howald and Serge Masse 14 each.
Treen and Davis shared
honors as top trainer with four trips to the winners
enclosure. Brett Currie had three while Mike Glover, Ray
Gemmill and Sam Robinson had two each.
SOPRANO HITS
CONTINUE: Red Star Soprano’s new streak is growing fast.
The six-year-old son
of Barnett Hanover, who had an eight-race winning streak
broken Jan. 12, captured his fifth consecutive victory last
Friday.
Soprano won gate to
wire, pulling away for a mighty 7½-length win over 34-1 shot
El Toro. Boiling Over was third for the fifth time in his
last seven starts. Soprano clocked his best in 2007 –
1:54.1.
Soprano, who is
trained and driven by Bill Davis for owner Niele Jiwan,
added to his resume which shows 13 wins in his last 14
starts, six in 2007, 12 in 2006, 26 career and more than
$33,000 in 2007 and more than $142,000 in career earnings.
WEEK'S BEST:
Regal Intention, a four-year-old son of As Promised,
captured his third straight win, in a lifetime best equaling
1:55.3, for trainer Barry Treen.
The Funk Brothers, a
four-year-old son of Scruffy Hanover, won his second
successive race, and fourth in his last seven starts. The
latest was for new trainer Dave Hudon.
Sues Delema, a
seven-year-old mare by Freedoms Pass, grabbed her second in
a row for trainer Brett Currie.
Red Star Pristine, a
five-year-old daughter of Gothic Dream, won her second
straight and eighth in her last 11 starts. She also is
7-5-0-1 in 2007 for trainer Bill Davis.
Sparking Puddles (b m
Dancing Puddles) lowered her career best clocking to 2:00
for trainer Barry Treen; Cams Lucky Charm (m 4 As Promised)
paced the mile in a new life mark of 1:56.1 for trainer
Brett Currie; Shesabombshell (m 4 As Promised) went faster
than ever, a 1:59 clocking for trainer Treen; Richs Pride (h
4 Safe N Rich) cut her career best to 1:58.1 for trainer Ray
Gemmill and Sunny To Rivers (c 3 Make A Deal) flew over the
track in a life mark of 1:58 for trainer Sam Robinson.
PROSNICK IN DREAMING
FINAL: Ron Prosnick led the way in week eight of the
California Dreamin’ handicapping contest at Fraser Downs.
Prosnick registered
the healthy total of $905 for a nail-biting decision over a
pair of challengers – Ed McAvoy and Paul Thompson -- who
each had $880.
When the dust had
settled there was a large five-way tie for fourth at $760.
The five were Ron Dorland, Ray Hall (already a finalist),
Koji Kariya, Ethel Shubrook (don’t ask Les how he did) and
Steven Wilkings.
Prosnick joins
previous week’s winner Bud Ketcheson, along with Maple Lam,
Louis Iskra, Ronnie Goodey, Sarah Day, Ray Hall and David
Porter in the contest final.
There’s just chance
left with only this week remaining in the contest that will
have each weekly winner competing in the final on March 10
to try to win a trip to the Santa Anita Derby on April 7.
Contestants are
allowed to pick any three races using races 3-8 on the
designated Saturday cards from Santa Anita Racetrack. Each
selection will have a mythical $20 across the board wager on
it. The person with the most money from his/her three races
will be off to the final. Prices will be capped at $42 for a
win, $22 for a second and $12 for a third. Each weekly
winner will receive $100 as a prize.
The final this year
has a slight twist. Each of the nine finalists will have a
live bankroll of $180 to wager. Six races from Santa Anita
will be selected and each contestant must place a $10 across
the board wager on each of the races. The twist: if a
contestant makes money for the day, regardless if he or she
is grand champion, they get to keep their proceeds.
Entry ballots will be
available starting at 10 on Friday morning and must be
handed in before the start of the second race at Santa
Anita. Only one entry per person is allowed
