Hezzz A Wise Sky was victorious in the $20,205 Open Handicap Pace featured on the Tuesday night, June 24 harness racing program at Running Aces.
Hezzz A Wise Sky was making his first local start of the season and was the public’s top pick at 3-5 while Speaking Volumes was the second choice in the win pool at 4-1.
PD The Big Easy (Brady Jenson) was fast off the car from post four to get the first call but Hezzz A Wise Sky and driver Dean Magee had their sites on the front of the field from post eight and they surged up quickly to challenge for, and take the lead near the :27.1 opening quarter-mile checkpoint, as Speaking Volumes (Rick Magee) travelled in third and Sneaky Hill (Brandon Jenson) operated in fourth early.
Alilthundadownunda (Nick Roland) got rolling from seventh near the :55.1 half-mile mark and created an outer flow that was joined by both War Machine (Mooney Svendsen) and Macs Marvel (Luke Plano) as they raced down the backstretch.
Hezzz A Wise Sky remained in full control as they headed into the final turn while PD The Big Easy was still snug in the pocket and Alilthundadownunda loomed large from third during the :28.2 third panel.
In the lane, Hezzz A Wise Sky kept going strong and was never in doubt to post a 1-1/2-length tally while Alilthundadownunda was clearly second best and Speaking Volumes (Rick Magee) shook free late to overtake PD The Big Easy for the show spot in the 1:52 mile, which marked the 59th career victory for the John Filomeno trainee.
Hezzz A Wise Sky, who is an eight-year-old stallion by Yankee Skyscraper out of Gimmeazzzmooch is owned by Triple Zzz Stable. The victory pushed his career bankroll within $4,745 of the million-dollar mark. Hezzz A Wise Sky paid $3.40 to win.
Starstruck Fool (Karpathian Kid-Lovin A Fool) delivered a big performance with driver Nick Roland in the bike as the heavy favourite in the $23,288 Minnesota-sired freshman filly pace for her first career win, going gate-to-wire from post six in 1:59.2 over Delco Janet (Rick Magee) and Hialrious Hannah (Brady Jenson). The winner is owned by Jeralene and Briar Roland and is trained by Lino Pacheco. The win mutuel was $2.40.
The other freshman winners on the card included Set Free (Three Of Clubs-Hostess Lisa), with driver Rick Magee, in the $23,288 colt pace in 1:56.3 and Memorialized (Karpathian Kid-Day Into Night), with driver Billy Mann, in the $11,644 ‘B’ pace in 1:59.1. The freshman trot events went to Al Mar Flashover (Southwind Flash-Vestal Hanover) and driver Nick Roland in 2:01.3 in the $28,767 ‘A’ division and Wyoming Bound (Tymal Templar-Pats A Keeper), with driver Scott Cisco, in 2:05 in the $19,178 ‘B’ division.
Drivers Nick Roland and Brady Jenson both had doubles on the program while Jenson also had two training wins.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday, June 26 for a 12-race program that will get underway at 6 p.m. (CDT) and also offers a ‘Superhero Night’ theme with kid’s activities and giveaways and fundraising for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
(With files from Running Aces)