Running Aces hosted its first freshman race of the season on Tuesday, June 17 with a field of seven rookie pacers going to post for the $11,486 Two-Year-Old Open and Fire Inside turned heads in his debut with a track record performance.
Starstruck Fool and driver Nick Roland was the fastest off the car and established early control with a quick opening panel in :27.4 while heavy favourite Fire Inside and Elson Miller secured the pocket trip and Set Free, driven by Rick Magee, landed in third. Roland orchestrated a :30.4 breather in the second quarter and maintained the lead as they headed onto the backstretch.
Miller tipped Fire Inside from the pocket before the five-eighths marker and drew alongside the leader as they rounded past the three-quarters in 1:27. The top pair were locked in battle as they turned into the lane, but as they straightened for home, Fire Inside had another gear and quickly drew away with every stride, posting an impressive final quarter in :27.2 and stopping the timer at 1:54.2 for a new track record for freshman colt pacers.
The winning margin for Fire Inside was 5-1/4 lengths over Starstruck Fool, with Set Free a further half-length back in third. He paid $2.60 to win.
Miller is also the winning trainer and co-owns the Check Six-Bluebird Love colt with Dr. Ken Rucker. He led the night with three training triumphs on the nine-race card.
The previous record of 1:55.1 was held by Linkjack Hanover, driven by Rick Magee, back in 2014.
Macs Marvel $2.80) delivered another big performance as the heavy favourite in the $14,750 Open Handicap Pace for Luke Plano, going gate-to-wire in 1:51.3 for two in a row and a seasonal mark. The six-year-old son of Captaintreacherous-Michelles Power was never in doubt and checked home 1-1/2 lengths ahead of PD The Big Easy (Brady Jenson) with Dont Judge A Book (Billy Mann) rounding out the top three.
The winner is owned by Friendship Stables and trained by Maria Alvarez for the Williams Hernandez Stable.
Live harness acing returns to Running Aces on Thursday, June 19 for an 11-race program that will feature a pair of carryovers including $1,716.91 for the 50-cent Hi-5 wager in race four, as well as $9,075.03 for the 20-cent Pick-5, which starts in race seven. Post time is set for 6 p.m. (CDT).
(With files from Running Aces)