A trio of Michigan-sired three-year-olds — Kaa Dee Archie, Guns A Brazen and Forever A Flirt — kept their undefeated seasonal records in Michigan Colt Stakes competition intact through the Blue Division events this past weekend on Saturday, July 13 at the Barry Expo in Hastings.
In the first $7,000-plus division for three-year-old male trotters, Kaa Dee Archie carved out splits of :31.2, 1:07.1 and 1:40 before repelling a challenge from Blazingmonsieur to win by four lengths in 2:11.3 over a track rated slow with a three-second allowance. David Lake drove the Southwind Russet-Cant Fire Me gelding to his fourth win in as many starts on the fair circuit this season for trainer Kent Hess and owner/breeder Marjorie Deshetsky.
Guns A Brazen and trainer/driver Raymond Kinney likewise rolled to a fourth consecutive win in the second three-year-old male trotting split, sustaining a first-over grind to wear down pacesetter Inkadabra Abe through middle splits of 1:04.2 and 1:35 before edging 7-1/4 lengths clear of runner-up Rockylanesamazon in 2:08. Sandra Kinney and Chad and Jared Kreeger own the Brazen-Premier Glitter gelding.
In the second division for three-year-old pacing fillies, Forever A Flirt and driver Brad Kramer travelled unopposed through a 1:06.2 half before using a 1:00.4 back half to speed 13-1/2 lengths clear of Solidazabrickhouse to win in 2:07.1 and improve to four-for-four on the season. Trainer Kelly Goodwin co-owns the Bondi Hanover-Always A Romance filly with Crystal Terrell.
Previously undefeated two-year-olds Kaa Dee Carol, Kaa Dee Polly and Not Fake News all lost for the first time in their careers, losing all chance at extending their win streaks to four after breaking stride at the outset of their respective Colt Stakes races.
The Friday, July 12 program featured Michigan Colt Stakes events for Michigan-bred horses, led by a 26-3/4-length, 2:07.1 win from Mother Mary in a three-year-old filly pace with a purse of more than $5,000. Brad Kramer drove Joe Casagranda's homebred daughter of Rockin Image-PV Miracle Mary.
On the trotting side of the ledger, Judy Roegner's homebred Rankin again used front-stepping tactics, this time to win by 23 lengths in 2:09. Tim Roach drove the Enterprise-Luvyaformiles gelding.
Chanceitlikeitis took the fastest mile of the meet in the overnight portion of the Sunday, July 14 program, winning a $1,370 Free-For-All Pace in 2:00 over good going for trainer/driver Paul Cloer Jr.
The Michigan fair harness racing circuit moves east to the Tuscola County Fair in Caro for a two-day meeting. The Saturday, July 20 program features Colt Stakes events open to both Michigan-sired and Michigan-bred horses. The Sunday, July 21 program will consist of overnight races. Post time both days is 5:30 p.m.
(Michigan Harness Horsemen's Association)