Mcaracas turned Saturday night’s lone division in the opening leg of The Diplomat Pacing Series for three-year-old colts and geldings into a final-quarter sprint

and scored decisively for driver Mario Baillargeon in 1:53.2.

The strapping son of Mcardle - Smooth Latin N left sharply from Post 2 and grabbed control briefly before yielding to Jackets Required (Randy Waples) at the opening quarter in :28.3. Baillargeon quickly came back around with his charge and took the field through a leisurely opening half of :58.3.

Mcaracas, assessed at odds of 85-1 in Trot Magazine's 2010 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book, continued to lead into the final turn when the pocket-sitting Jackets Required made a brief break in stride, scattering several horses in behind. Meanwhile, Mcaracas strolled past the third panel in 1:27.1.

As the field turned for home, Baillargeon asked his colt for more and Mcaracas responded with a blistering :26.1 final quarter to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Jackets Required, who was subsequently placed seventh for causing interference. Top Gear (Sylvain Filion) was elevated to the place spot while Affleck (Jody Jamieson) got bumped up into the show position.

Mcaracas kicked back $3.60 as the bettor’s choice.

“Well, there was only two colts [Mcaracas and Jackets Required] I think,” said winning driver Mario Baillargeon. “Randy [Waples] was in front and his horse [Jackets Required] was looking around so I went back to the front. We got a bit of a headwind in the backside so 30 seconds seems slow but it wasn’t that bad of a quarter.

“Nobody challenged me to the three-quarters. You know, we’ve got a long year with him and I wanted to win but didn’t want to abuse him tonight. I think it’s a good race for him tonight.”

Mcaracas, who is trained by Ben Baillargeon, is now two-for-two this season for owners Ecuries Vert Et Blanc Inc. of Pierrefonds, QC and Gilles Parent of Ottawa, ON. The winner’s share of the purse increased his career earnings to just over $69,000.

For complete reaction from driver Mario Baillargeon, visit the video section of the WEG website by clicking here.

In Open action, O’Brien Award winner Bigtime Ball turned in the nation’s fastest mile of 2010.

Regular reinsman Paul MacDonell sent the six-year-old son of Presidential Ball-Keystone Trinidad, trained by Gord Irwin, to the top from Post 5 in the $42,000 event. Bigtime Ball clicked off early stations of :25.2 and :53.4 and turned back a challenge from the parked out Ramegade Bruiser (Chris Christoforou) en route to three-quarters in 1:22.1. The 1-9 favourite drew away by 2-3/4 lengths with a :26.4 final quarter to triumph in 1:49. Major Hottie (Mark MacDonald) and Astreos Flash (Jody Jamieson) were second and third.

Irwin Stables Inc. of Cobourg, ON owns the millionaire pacer, who won for the first time this year after finishing second in his seasonal debut last week.

To view Saturday’s results, click here.

(With files from WEG)