Rojo Caliente and driver Nick Roland swept from last to first to take the featured event on Thursday (May 19) at Running Aces.
Dismissed on the board at 8-1 in the $16,500 Mares Open Handicap Pace, the striking five-year-old daughter of Time To Roll decided it was time to do exactly that down the backstretch. She tipped out of the last position in the five-horse contest as they headed for the far turn.
Heavy 1-2 favourite Rockin With Lou (Dean Magee) had made all the pace (:27.4, :56.4 and 1:25.2) on the front end before Shesureissomething (Rick Magee) came knocking on the door in the final three-eighths of a mile.
As the featured distaffers straightened for the finish Shesureissomething began to get the best of the leader while Rojo Caliente ($18.40) tipped to the far outside and stormed home to sweep by them all and get a neck in front in 1:54.4 over Shesureissomething and Rockin With Lou.
It was the third win of the season, and 12th career tally for Rojo Caliente, who is owned by Craig Rhodes and James Ballinger and trained by Brett Ballinger.
The three-year-old Open Pace offered a purse of $9,700 and the nice field of eight sophomores also produced a thrilling finish at the wire.
Anotherblazinwoman (Luke Plano) was fastest from the gate and took immediate control while stablemate Give Me This Dance (Nick Roland) settled for the pocket and Fox Valley Ozzy (Gary Rath) dropped in third through the sensible early fractions (:29.1 and :58.2).
Down the backside Fox Valley Ozzy was flushed out by Search The Sea (Brady Jenson) and the action heated up as they rounded for home. In the lane, Fox Valley Ozzy battled the leader into submission while Search The Sea rallied on the outside and Give Me This Dance angled between rivals.
Fox Valley Ozzy ($4.80) fought gamely to the wire for a three-quarter length victory over Search The Sea and Give Me This Dance in 1:55.3 for his second win of the season and his 10th win in just 14 career outings.
The winner, trained by Rath, is a gelded son of World Of Rocknroll and is owned by Steven McMackin and David Lee Samuelson.
Driver Mooney Svendsen posted the first grand slam of the Aces season, and trainer Kathie Plested posted the first training triple of the meet. Nick Roland also registered a driving double on the program.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday (May 22) with first post at 7:00 pm (CDT) and will feature a Carryover of $2,869.36 in the Pick-5 Jackpot wager.
(Running Aces)