The Sunday night, June 9 harness racing program at Running Aces was highlighted by an upset performance in the $21,333 Open Handicap Trot.
Warrawee Whisper drew post position one in the seven-horse affair and was given little respect by the betting public which sent the six-year-old son of Trixton away at 24-1 on the board.
Trainer/driver Brady Jenson hustled Warrawee Whisper off the gate to fend off an early bid by Winner Up (Nick Roland), who tried for the lead but had to settle for the pocket position, while Dylan The Great (Luke Plano) landed in third.
Warrawee Whisper laid down solid early fractions in :27.2 and :56.3 while race favourite Majestic J (Elson Miller) jumped it off in the early stages.
Warrawee Whisper and Jenson kept on going strong and opened up by more than three lengths around the far turn, posting a sharp :28.1 third panel while Special Mission (Todd Warren) got rolling from fourth and tried to track down the leader.
Special Mission continued to close in the lane but was unable to catch the leader, as Warrawee Whisper got home three-quarters of a length to the good in the sharp 1:54 mile, sparking a $51.60 win payout for his backers. Louis (Jacob Cutting) rallied late to pick up third money while well back of the top pair.
The winner is owned by Jenson as well as Ken Stauffer. Warrawee Whisper earned his third victory of the season from 13 starts and his 17th career win, with his earnings now just shy of $350,000.
Greentea (Plano, $2.80) made a big move to the front early and held off a late challenge by Orlando Hanover (Warren) to capture the $20,548 Banker Volo Trotting Series final by a neck in 1:59.3 for owner Jana Lee Rucker and trainer Elson Miller. The three-year-old colt by Greenshoe now has two wins from five career outings.
DP Freedoms Chrome (James Gould, $2.80) made a mid-race move to the lead and then drew away at every call to capture the $28,767 Minnesota-sired sophomore ‘A’ trot by 8-3/4 lengths in a career best 1:58, while Bankers Grace was second best and Bankers Quest rounded out the trifecta. The winner is a son of For You Almostfree and is owned by Aimes Racing and trained by Elvin Zimmerman.
Piggly Wiggly (Nick Roland, $31.60) posted a career best, gate-to-wire victory in the $19,178 sophomore ‘B’ trot in 2:00.4, getting home three lengths better than American Cross (Gould) while Adeline Rose (Rick Magee) checked in third. It was the second career win from eight career starts for Piggly Wiggly, who is owned by Set The Pace Racing and is trained by Roland.
Driver Brad Irvine and trainer Laura Shock led the Sunday program with three wins each, while Brady Jenson and Luke Plano both posted doubles.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday night, June 11 for a nine-race program that will get underway with first post at 7 p.m. (CDT). The card will feature a carryover of $13,314.61 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager, which will begin in race five.
(Running Aces)