Lady Angel delivered the performance of her career to capture the featured $18,500 Mares Open Handicap Pace on Thursday (July 13) at Running Aces.
Trainer/driver Elson Miller left aggressively from post two to take the early lead from Crazy Cute (Mooney Svendsen) while Lady Rocknrolla A (Jacob Cutting) got away in third and JK My Girl (Todd Warren) was caught to the outside during the opening fractions in :27 and :55.2.
JK My Girl failed to make a big impression and Lady Rocknrolla A tipped out but found a poor cover scenario while Disaronno Hill got rolling three-wide from the back of the pack and the top two were both going strong past the three-quarter mark in 1:23.
Lady Angel continued to pace strong through the lane and was able to fend off a late rally from Crazy Cute, who came up just a half-length short at the wire in 1:51.1, while Graceful Horizon (Nick Roland) shook free and closed late for third money.
The winner is also owned by Miller and she now shows three wins from 11 starts this year and has seasonal earnings of $39,125. She paid $6 to win.
In the Minnesota-Sired freshman action, EL Parrandero Q (Cutting, $2.40) delivered a sharp performance as the big favourite to capture his second lifetime win, checking in 2-3/4 lengths ahead of Rocklikeahurricane (Warren) and Search And Destroy (Brady Jenson) in 1:58.1 in the $17,500 colts and geldings pace. The winner is by Wind Me Up and is owned by Triple Q Stables and trained by Edwin Quevedo.
Apple Juice (Cutting, $8.60) took the $17,500 freshman filly ‘A’ division with a gate-to-wire score in 1:57 for a new career mark with Deja Vu Babyboo home second and Moonlit Night home third. The winner is a daughter of Fancy Schmancy and is owned and trained by her breeder Scott Banitt.
TJB Secreharriet (Svendsev, $18.40) made the most of her second career start by posting a very impressive gate-to-wire romp in 2:00 flat, widening her lead at every call and getting home 4-1/4 lengths ahead of her rivals, including stablemate Little Miss Boss, who was second best, and Lizzies Cache, who checked in third. The winner is a daughter of Wind Me Up and is owned by Scott Ehrlich and the top two finishers are trained by Kathie Plested.
Gotubydashorthairs (Roland, $2.20) rallied late to get up by a head in the $18,250 sophomore filly pace for her second straight win. The daughter of Wind Me Up now shows three wins in eight career starts for owner Mark Anderson and trainer Gordon Graham. Longshot I Turn Heads (Brady Jenson) just missed victory in second and Made Of Misschief was third best.
Dougsmonkeybusiness (Cutting $21.80) snuck up the inside late in a thrilling photo-finish to get a nose up over race favourite Im A Skoldier (Svendsen) in the $18,250 sophomore boys pace, stopping the timer in 1:56.1 over a sloppy racetrack. The winner is also a son of Wind Me Up and he now shows five wins from 12 starts this season and has bankrolled $43,641 this year for owners Doug Flores and Rick Bertrand. Bertrand is also the winning trainer.
Jacob Cutting led the Thursday program with four driving wins, while Elson Miller posted three wins as owner/trainer/driver and Nick Roland posted a driving double.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday (July 16) and will feature the Dan Patch FFA eliminations as part of an 11-race offering. There are two elimination divisions going for $22,500 each. The card also features a carryover of $26,729.18 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager, and a $5,000 guarantee for the 50-cent Late Pick-4 wager. First post is set for 7 p.m. (CDT).
(Running Aces)