This season’s crop of two-year-old pacing colts was on display once again on Sunday, June 13 at Balmoral Park, as a total of 13 youngsters battled in a pair of $5,000 divisions of the Bingo Johnnie Stakes.
In the first division, G & B Stables' Little Gus toted home top honours in his career debut, as he scored by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.1. The second division saw Bruce Pacitti, Owen Brennan and William De Cicco’s Little Pauli romp home with a five and three-quarter-length triumph in 1:57.2.
Winning at first asking for trainer Roger Welch, Little Gus was reserved in the early going by driver Dave Magee. Powering up first-over on the final turn, the son of Sportsmaster--Love Life then uncorked a :56.2 back half to blow by his stablemate Dr Alfonso (Mike Oosting) for the victory. Fox Valley Mercury (driven by Homer Hochstetler) was third.
Fresh off an impressive win in the Jimmy Sunshine at Balmoral last Sunday night, Little Pauli made it two in row for driver Art Gregory, Jr. and trainer Bruce Pacitti. The gelded son of Park Place--Vocalist rolled through splits of :30.0, 1:00.3 and 1:30 before leaving his rivals in his wake with a :27.2 final quarter to keep his perfect record intact. Winchesters Hero (Mike Rogers) finished second, while Open Outcry (Marcus Miller) was third.
Sophomore trotting fillies were also in action, as Powers Farms LLC’s Southern Maebelle knocked off six other state-bred rivals in the $9,000 Fox Valley Diva Stakes. The winning time was 1:57.4.
(Balmoral)