Ontario-bred trotter Lexus Markus stole the spotlight at Running Aces on Sunday, Sept. 7 with an impressive late rally to gun down front-stepping favourite Escaper in the final stride of the $23,611 Open Handicap.

Driver Scott Cisco was content to float away in third position from post four with Lexus Markus while Bringovethemoney (Dean Magee) and Escaper (Billy Mann) battled for the top. Escaper made the front and led comfortably through fractions of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:26.2 while Baby Flash (Mooney Svendsen) launched a first-over bid down the backside and Brave By Design (Williams Hernandez) followed her cover.

Escaper was still going strong as they straightened for the wire and looked like a winner, but Lexus Markus shook free from fourth at the top of the lane and tipped wide to post an impressive late charge that resulted in a close photo finish, which showed Lexus Markus had gotten up by a head over Escaper in the final stride to prevail in 1:56.1. Ice Breakers K (Luke Plano) also rallied late to nose out Bringoverthemoney for third.

The winner is an eight-year-old son of Amigo Hall out of the Ontario Sires Stakes-winning mare Lexus Helios. Lexus Markus is owned by trainer Nathalie Tremblay and Dave Kuri of Elverta, California. The gelding now has four wins on the season from 26 starts and 20 career wins, with total earnings of $271,330.

 Lexus Markus paid $50.60 for the upset win.

Peanutbutterfalcon ($2.40), driven by Rick Magee, held gamely for another sharp win in the $24,306 Minnesota-sired sophomore boys trot, fending off a big late challenge from Braggen Bliss (Luke Plano) in 1:57.2 for his eighth straight win and his 10th win of the season from 11 starts. Trained by Dan Roland, the homebred son of Quality Kemp-Lindys On Fire is owned by Jeralene Roland.

Its Gonna Be Mae ($3.20), driven by Sean Smithpeters, delivered as the favourite to make it two in a row in the $24,306 Minnesota-sired sophomore filly trot, stopping the timer at 2:00 while 1-3/4 lengths ahead of Quality Kid (Billy Mann) with SHS Miss My Mama (Brady Jenson) rounding out the top three. It was the fourth win of the season for the daughter of Lear Jetta and Sweet Elly Mae who is owned and trained by her breeder Alexia Kehl.

Veteran pacer Robbie Burns N ($3) posted his 50th career win and made it three wins in a row in a $7,639 claiming event and pushed his career bankroll to $580,155. The classy son of Live Or Die and Kurahaupocharm is owned by trainer/driver Luke Plano and Dave Haness. The 14-year-old gelding, who took his 1:49.3 lifetime mark as a 10-year-old at Dover Downs, won this time in 1:55.1 over much younger rivals.

Brady Jenson led the program with four driving wins and a training triple while both Rick Magee and Luke Plano had driving doubles.

Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday, Sept. 9 for a nine-race program that will get underway at 7 p.m. (CDT).

(With files from Running Aces)