The feature race on the Tuesday night (July 25) harness racing program at Running Aces was the $15,000 Open II Handicap Pace, which went to post with a field of eight talented contenders.
Handsome Harvey (Luke Plano) was in search of his fifth win in a row and was sent off as the 2-1 favourite while Caliber (Dean Magee) took plenty of support at 5-2 and Schwartz Bros Pat (Todd Warren) was the third choice at 7-2.
When the starter said “go,” it was Caliber and Cheese Omelet (Brad Irvine) who both fired fastest from the line with Caliber gaining control before the fast opening quarter in :26.4 while Cheese Omelet secured the pocket and longshot Stick With Cramer (Jacob Cutting) found a seat in third.
That lineup remained through the middle stages (:55.3 and 1:23) until Stick With Cramer tipped first-over and Handsome Harvey followed the cover, while the top pair held their positions firmly.
In the homestretch. Stick With Cramer was gaining on the leaders and Cheese Omelet began to surge in the passing lane which resulted in a thrilling three-way photo finish at the wire. Cheese Omelet ($11.60) had surged just in time to grab the victory by a neck over Caliber with Stick With Cramer checking in just behind them in third in the 1:51.3 mile.
The win was the second of the season in 21 starts for the five-year-old son of American Ideal who is owned by Wilson Racing Stable and Ann Calvert and is trained by Tim Wilson Jr. along with assistant Jenni DeMenge.
A Major Omen (Kevin Wallis, $8.40) powered home in the homestretch to capture a $14,000 top conditioned pace in a very sharp 1:51.1 for a seasonal best win over longshots Trey Rockette (Brad Irvine) and SB Bodacious (Richard Magee). The winner is a seven-year-old gelding by Art Major who now shows 35 career wins and earnings of $381,351. He is owned and trained by Gerald Longo.
The $10,500 freshman Open Trot went to Insurrectionist (Banker Volo-Lindys On Fire), who posted his first career win in 2:03.1 with a sharp-looking effort from post five. Driver Luke Plano settled him away in fifth early and then surged to challenge leader and stablemate Bankers Grace (Nick Roland) down the backside. In the lane, Insurrectionist forged to the lead and then held off a strong late rally by Scoot Scoot (Brad Irvine) with Bankers Quest getting up for third. The winner is owned by Jeralene Roland and trained by Dan Roland.
Luke Plano led the Tuesday program with three driving wins while Rick Magee posted both a driving and training double.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday (July 27) with an 11-race program that will get underway at 7 p.m. (CDT).
(With files from Running Aces)