The top two finishers in the $50,000 Dan Patch FFA renewed their rivalry on Tuesday night (Aug. 1) at Running Aces, providing fans with an exciting display of speed and grit from start to finish.

Crooked Smile and Todd Warren, who just missed Dan Patch glory by a head on July 23, were hammered down to odds of 1-2 at post time from post six, while Dan Patch winners Hezzz A Wise Sky and Jacob Cutting were sent off at 8-5 from post seven.

The battle between the two favourites was on from the word go, with Crooked Smile powering from the gate to grab the lead while Hezzz A Wise Sky immediately came after the leader before taking a short-lived seat in the pocket as Macs Marvel (Brady Jenson) also got away fast and secured the third spot as the quarter flashed up in :26.1.

Just past the three-eighths marker, Cutting pulled the right line on Hezzz A Wise Sky and they cleared to the lead right at the :53.4 half, with Crooked Smile yielding and Macs Marvel keeping close tabs from third.

Hezzz A Wise Sky posted a three-quarter clocking of 1:21.2, which put the track record on everyone’s mind as they rounded for home.

The leader continued to pace strong in the lane but Crooked Smile had more to give from the pocket and Warren angled him out in the final sixteenth of a mile. They exploded with pace to surge past and capture victory by one length, stopping the timer at 1:49.2, which equalled the fastest mile ever at Running Aces.

Macs Marvel was a very respectable third in the record-tying mile and Handsome Harvey (Luke Plano) rallied late for fourth.

The winner is a six-year-old gelding by Panther Hanover, owned by Wilson Racing Stable and Turn For Home Racing. Crooked Smile is trained by Tim Wilson Jr. along with assistant Jenni DeMenge, and he now has 24 career wins and earnings of $332,906.

The 1:49.2 record is now shared with stablemate American Dreamer, who established the standard on July 16.

Insurrectionist (Plano, $5.80) posted a new career mark of 2:02 in the $18,250 Minnesota-sired freshman male trot, taking control of the affair just past the quarter-mile post and holding firm command thereafter. Longshot Wherever Rio Goes (Sean Smithpeters) was a very good second and DM King Ridge (Warren) rallied late for third. The winner is a son of Banker Volo who is owned by his breeder, Jeralene Roland, and is trained by Dan Roland.

Baby Flash and driver Chad Svendsen posted an impressive last-to-first rally to capture her eighth straight win and remain perfect so far in her career in the $18,250 Minnesota-sired freshman filly trot (on an early non-betting card). Bankers Grace (Rick Magee) also raced sharp while posting all the fractions and Spicymoneymaker (Jenson) charged home late to pick up third money in the 2:03 mile. The winner is a daughter of Southwind Flash, bred by Dennis Bontrager and owned by trainer Rick Huffman, Keith Wilson and Brenda Lovetinsky.

Drivers Luke Plano and Todd Warren each posted triples on the card, while trainers Williams Hernandez and Tim Wilson. Jr. both recorded doubles.

Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday with a three-race early non-betting card starting at 6 p.m. and a nine-race betting program that will get underway at 7 p.m. (CDT).

(Running Aces)