One of the two open events went to the favorite at Fraser Downs last Sunday but it was an upset in the other.

Coco Bongo, one of three $35,000 claimers in the field of five in the fillies and mares open, went gate to wire to steal the thunder from a pair of open mares.

Westart Love and Furious Five, second and third in the recent Miss Cloverdale stakes event, were at even and 6-5 odds respectively at post time. However, 9-1 shot Coco Bongo, with driver Barry Treen, shot to the front from the two spot on the gate and never looked back (well maybe Treen peeked).

They covered the mile in a new life mark of 1:55 in winning by a neck over the hard-closing Furious Five. Red Star Ginny finished third with Westart Love fourth.

The victory was the first of the year for Coco Bongo who is owned by Shales Stables and trained by Treen. She now has 11 in her career and earnings of more than $83,000.

Also, in a short field of five, 1-5 favorite Red Star Senator also went gate to wire to win the open (with $35,000 claimers) for the guys.

Senator started outside, and although having to work hard held the lead by a length and a half at the quarter. With Jim Burke in the sulky, Senator covered the mile in 1:54.2 in hanging on for a half-length decision.

Armbro Blacktie, who was fifth at the half, closed in 28 seconds over the last quarter for second with Heavy Rain Warning third.

It was the 25th lifetime victory for Senator, who is owned by Mary Murphy and trained by Bob Merschback. Senator is 5-3-2-0 in 2007 with more than $22,000 in earnings for the year and more than $315,000 lifetime. 

DELTA LEGS SKIPPED: There will be no elimination leg for the Delta Pace final for three-year-old fillies.

There were 10 entries for elims but three form an entry and rules say that a split forcing two legs cannot be caused by an entry.

That leaves nine for the $25,000 final on March 18.

The field will be led by Garden Gate Tina and Red Star Cindy, who had several duals in their two-year-old season.

Tina, owned by Niele Jiwan and trained by Bill Davis, won most of the battles with Robert Murphy’s Cindy and will likely be the early favorite.

Murphy also entered Red Star Cloudy and Red Star Poppy. Others in the field, and not ready to let Tina and Cindy take home the spoils without a challenge, are Adorable Killean, Wanton Hall, Millbanks Tempest, Vee Cee Snuggles, Ross Ridge Casino, and Judges Acenthehole. 

MASSE LEADS WAY: Serge Masse captured top honors in both the driver and trainer (actually shared) categories last weekend.

Masse registered a handful of wins to lead all drivers. Jim Marino was second with four.

Scott Knight, Barry Treen and Dave Hudon shared third with three each while Jim Burke, Clint Warrington and Bill Davis had two apiece.

Masse made three trips to the winner’s enclosure to share top trainer with Hudon.

Jim Mohorich, Warrington, Mike Glover, Steve Germain and Treen had two wins each.

Davis, who has dominated both driver and trainer stats in the meet and in 2007, has left the Downs for Alberta to compete at Northlands Park. Also moved to Alberta are trainers Wally Slopianka and Dave Jungquist and some of Ray Gemmill’s horses. 

WEEK'S REVIEW: The Funk Brothers, a four-year-old son of Scruffy Hanover, won his third straight race, and fifth in his last eight starts despite a jump in class. The latest win was in a career best clocking of 1:55.3 for trainer Dave Hudon.

Book Of Life, a seven-year-old by Life Sign, captured his second in a row for trainer Mike Glover. The gelding is 8-3-1-1 in 2007.

Shesabombshell, a four-year-old mare by As Promised, went faster than ever for the second week in a row, this time in 1:57 for trainer Barry Treen. Shesabombshell beat a field of eight boys.

Despite the sloppy track, off two seconds last Friday, Kootenay Ice (h 7 Scruffy Hanover) was another with a new career best mark, 1:55.3 for trainer Kyle Chadwick.

Perhaps it was because the time was not blistering (2:03), but the eight entrants in the ninth race last Friday finished within three lengths of the winner, Flatmates Oie.

Soarnbrace, a seven-year-old mare by Brace Yourself, ran her record to 2-2 in her last four starts for trainer Mike Glover and pushed her career earnings to more than $104,000.

Bad Girl, a four-year-old daughter of Presidential Ball, captured her second in a row for trainer Bill Davis in a new life mark of 1:57.3.

Red Star Best, a five-year-old gelded son of Cambest, won his second straight for trainer Ann Cooper.

Ross Ridge Casino, a three-year-old filly by Intrepid Seelster, pushed her 2007 record to 5-2-1-1 by winning in a new career best of 1:59.2 for trainer Jim Mohorich.

Kaiser Black, an eight-year-old son of Deamons Bell, won his first of the year for trainer Ken Dorman, and the 15th of his career.

We Winnie Winston, a five-year-old son of Usher Hanover, picked up his third win (along with two thirds) in six starts in 2007. Winnie, trained by Heather Sifert, passed the $100,000 mark in career earnings.

Wanton Hall, a three-year-old daughter of Blissfull Hall, pushed her 2007 record to 5-3-2-0 with a win in a new life mark of 1:57.2 for trainer Serge Masse.

WACHOWICZ COMPLETES DREAMIN' FIELD: The nine finalists have been decided for the big California Dreamin’ handicapping contest final this Saturday at Fraser Downs.

Bill Wachowicz led the way in the ninth and final week, taking a narrow, narrow $2 decision over Ernie Moroz. Wachowicz totalled $813 while Moroz had $811.

Doug Shiratti was next with $781 and D Tarabas had $760. Sharing fifth spot were Jim Featherstone, Paul Klaver and Scott MacCaskill with $708.

Wachowicz joins previous week’s winner Ron Prosnick, along with Bud Ketcheson, Maple Lam, Louis Iskra, Ronnie Goodey, Sarah Day, Ray Hall and David Porter in the contest final.

The nine will now compete in the final to try to win a trip to the Santa Anita Derby on April 7.

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.

During the nine weeks of the contest, entrants were allowed to pick any three races using races 3-8 on the designated Saturday cards from Santa Anita Racetrack. Each selection jad a mythical $20 across the board wager on it. The person with the most money from his/her three races was off to the final. Prices were capped at $42 for a win, $22 for a second and $12 for a third. Each weekly winner also received $100 as a prize.

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