Minnesota-sired freshman trotters were in the spotlight at Running Aces on Tuesday night (July 18) with two divisions competing for a total purse of $36,500.
Baby Flash ($2.40), driven by Dean Magee, turned in another impressive performance in the $18,250 filly division to advance to a perfect seven-for-seven career record.
Bankers Grace (Nick Roland) left fastest from post five while longshot Wisco On A Mission (Jacob Cutting) secured the pocket and Al Mar Puredelight (Todd Warren) settled away in third through the early fractions in :31.1 and 1:01.4.
Magee activated Baby Flash down the backstretch and they quickly drew alongside the leader and the top two remained in battle around the far turn, posting three-quarters in 1:31.4.
Once straightened in the lane, Baby Flash powered past Bankers Grace and kicked clear to post a 2-1/2-length victory in a career-best 2:01.3 while Wisco On A Mission narrowly held third over Spiceymoneymaker (Brady Jensen).
The winning filly is a daughter of Southwind Flash who was bred by Dennis Bontrager and is owned by trainer Rick Huffman, as well as Keith Wilson and Brenda Lovetinsky.
Scoot Scoot ($13.80) and driver Brad Irvine captured the $18,250 freshman boys division with a thrilling surge at the wire to get a neck in front of Bankers Quest (Lemoyne Svendsen) in 2:02.2 for his first career win.
Insurrectionist (Plano) posted all the fractions while Bankers Quest rode the pocket and Scoot Scoot followed from third. In the homestretch, the top three fanned across the track with Scoot Scoot ($13.80) surging up the inside to grab the victory.
Scoot Scoot, a gelded son of Lear Jetta, was bred by Al-Mar Farms and is owned and trained by Gerald Longo.
Stick With Cramer (Plano, $29.40) posted an upset win in the $15,000 top condition pace, converting a first-over journey into a solid two-length score in 1:51.2 for two wins in a row. Chase The Gold (Rick Magee) followed the winner in the outer flow and was clearly second best over Fox Valley Ozzy (Gary Rath), who rallied late for third.
It was career win number 27 for eight-year-old Art Major gelding Stick With Cramer, who is owned by Ron Rettig-Zucchi and trained by Liberio Pacheco.
Luke Plano led the Tuesday program with four driving wins while trainers Williams Hernandez and Edwin Quevedo both recorded doubles.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday night (July 20) for an 11-race program, which gets underway at 7 p.m. (CDT).
(With files from Running Aces)