After having been sent off as the even-money second choice, Allamerica Native five-year-old Illwinifican captured Fraser Downs’ $11,000 Open Pace on Sunday, April 9 over the Surrey, BC oval.

With pilot James Burke in tow, Illwinifican lined up in Post 1 for Race 2 and let Boysgotfever (driven by Clinton Warrington Jr.) beat him to the first call in :27.2.

Burke had the Dennis Johnston trainee on his game in the second quarter of the dash, as the bay took over control of the proceedings before clicking off the half-mile timer in a tepid :30.2.

Illwinifican continued to do his business on the front in the third quarter, as he spun past the 1:26.1 third call while the odds-on choice, Buddy Weiser (Serge Masse), sat parked to his outside.

The outcome may have been different if Buddy Weiser did not sustain broken equipment during the late stages of the race, although, regardless, Illwinifican nailed the wire first, one and a quarter-length ahead of his foe.

Read The Proposal (Jim Marino) finished third, while Boysgotfever and Prodigal (John Abbott) picked up the final cheques.

Trainer Johnston co-owns Illwinifican along with partner Ray Thomson, who have now seen their gelding compile a career record of 15-11-2 from 38 career starts and bank over $169,000 in purses.

(Standardbred Canada)