Inferno DK scorched the Running Aces oval with a track record performance in the $24,306 Steve Wiseman Memorial Trot Preview on a Sunday, Aug. 9 when there was no shortage of longshot winners on the program.

Fifty Rivers was the talk of the tote board as the 4-5 favourite while Escaper (7-2) and Peanutbutterfalcon (4-1) rounded out the top three picks by the public.

Escaper and driver Rick Magee charged fastest from the gate initially, and Casey Leonard was also intent on a forward position for Fifty Rivers and made an early move for the lead near the :27.2 quarter while 15-1 shot Inferno Dk and driver/trainer Brady Jenson had also left alertly from post eight and secured the third position.

Fifty Rivers was the boss during the middle stages and posted solid fractions of :56.1 and 1:25.2 while Escaper tracked closely from the pocket and Inferno DK travelled in third before tipping out to make a bid as they headed into the final turn, which provided a cover flow for both Lexus Markus (Dean Magee) and Chapolier (Luke Plano).

Inferno DK drew alongside Fifty Rivers as they rounded to the top of the lane and that pair were locked in a thrilling battle during the final sixteenth of a mile. Inferno DK was relentless and pushed past Fifty Rivers in the final strides to post a three-quarters of a length tally in 1:53.2 and establish a new track record for aged trotting geldings and a new career mark.

Lexus Markus prevailed in a three-way battle for third over Escaper and Peanutbutterfalcon (Scott Cisco).

The winner is a six-year-old son of Great Challenger-Primella, who now has 16 career wins with earnings of $185,255. He is also owned by Jenson, in partnership with Theresa Rabida of Wyoming, Minnesota, Ken Stauffer of Withee, Wisconsin and Cathy Dessert of Vadnais Heights, Minnesota. 

Inferno DK paid $32.80 on top, winning his third straight race.

The previous track record for this category was 1:53.4 held by Pridecrest, driven by Steve Wiseman in 2018. 

The $35,000 USD Wiseman Memorial final will be the main event next Sunday night, Aug. 16.

Brady Jenson also provided some fireworks with 24-1 shot Model Good Looks (Southwind Cobra-Hula Majic) in the $24,306 Minnesota-sired sophomore filly trot with a very impressive four-length tally in 1:57.3 for her first career win. He worked out a perfect trip behind heavy favourite SV Shining Star (Rick Magee) and Model Good Looks exploded with trot in the lane to draw clear. The $51.40 winner is owned by Stauffer along with Larry Jenson of Humboldt, Iowa, and also trained by Brady Jenson.

Bang Bang Boogie (New Jersey Viking-Kaitrin Hall) remained razor sharp and posted another gate-to-wire effort with Rick Magee in the bike in the colt and gelding division in a career best 1:56.1 over My Little Maverick (Brady Jenson) and Wisco Money Heist (Luke Plano). It was the eighth win of the season in a dozen starts for the Justin Anfinson trainee. Stauffer also co-owns this winner with Stephanie Anfinson of Kenyon, Minnesota.

Brady Jenson also won with Marc In The Box in a $6,944 claiming pace to complete a training triple on the 10-race card in addition to driving the Dan Roland-trained Iron Sharpens Iron. Rick Magee also drove four winners on the card.

Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday, Aug. 11 with a nine-race program that will get underway at 7 p.m. (CDT). 

(With files from Running Aces)