Dewinton Destroyer's stake resume from 2011 included an ASHA Breeders Stake Elim win, the $57,500 Alberta Sires Stake Diamond Final, a Bev Sears Sales Stake Division victory and the big one... the $75,000 Northlands Filly Pace Final. Owned by Keith Clark and Doris MacDougall the As Promised miss now has an 11-7-1 win-place-show record from 26 starts last season - good for $155,929 in purse money earned.
The 'front man' Gts Jake picked up his fourth consecutive win in gate-to-wire fashion Friday night for owners Gerald, Terry and Marjorie McGinn. Bill Tainsh Jr. would have him home and cooled in 1:55 flat for his ninth win of 2011.
The much anticipated battle between All Canadian Mjjz and Trust The Artist only lasted for about an eighth-of-a-mile in the Saturday night fast-class affair. Mjjz and Pablo were absolutely pacing out of their skin by the opening eighth when both horses hesitated upon seeing a piece of white tape on the track. Pablo was able to avoid it by darting inside, but Mjjz wasn't so lucky.
"It was the first time he's ever raced at night," says trainer Rod Starkewski of MJJZ. "The track lighting, reflecting on the tape, may have been a factor," he continued. "I must say Boomer (Jeff Stone) did a terrific job of getting him right back to his feet after the fall."
Mjjz was in fact up very quickly following the mishap and it appeared that he wanted to continue on with the race... Now that's heart!
"He's got a knee scrape," says Starkewski. "That will take a bit of time (to heal) and he will get a few days rest, but I'll have him back on the track this week doing some light jogging. I'm expecting him to come back just as good after a very short break."
Coming out on top in the New Years Eve top class event was 2011 'Claimer of the Year' possibility Greek Ruler in rein to John Chappell. It would be Ruler's tenth win of the year and his first victory of 2011 when not racing for a price. Joe Ratchford owns and trains the big seven-year-old son of Astreos.
James 'Purple Rain' Jungquist drove our first winner of 2012 - Minettas Littlejoe. It would be the worst-to-first move through the final half to seal the deal in 2:00.3 for owner Doug Woodland. Jungquist would then double-up on Sunday in the New Years Day finale with the longest shot on the board - Hf Daves Revenge in 2:00.1. The Harold Haining owned and trained homebred son of Glorious Scooter would return $72.00 on the win ticket and complete a WIN 4 worth $1728.20 for the $1 ticket.
Gagne hits 1000 in B.C.
Horseman J.F. Gagne had much more to celebrate than the New Year on Sunday, January 1 as he reached a special career milestone amidst a driving grand slam at Fraser Downs.
Gagne recorded his 1,000th career win aboard his homebred pacing mare Queens Heritaj in the fifth race. The five-year-old Tajma Hall (Northlands Track Record Holder - 1:50.3) miss, trained by Marjorie Dumont, converted from the pocket to pull off a 10-1 upset over the popular pacesetter Intrepid Kate, stopping the clock in 1:56 flat.
(With files from Standardbred Canada)
