Believeincaptain established himself as the two-year-old pacing colt to beat in Michigan when he extended his undefeated career record to five wins by handing Allamerican Beach his first-ever defeat in a 2:01 score in the $20,890 Michigan Colt Stakes Blue Division event for rookie male pacers on Sunday, July 27 at the Huron Community Fair.
In line to Kody Massey, Believeincaptain left hard from his outside post in the field of five to clear Allamerican Beach (Brad Kramer) through a :28.2 first quarter. After controlling fractions of :57.4 and 1:27.4, Believeincaptain was kept to his task in the stretch and maintained 2-1/2 lengths of clearance over Allamerican Beach. Letsgo Gibbs (Kim Pluta) finished third.
Believeincaptain, a son of Captain Victorious-Believeincarrie, is trained by Allen Sisco and owned by Allan Cisco Stable LLC in partnership with Oldford Racing LLC.
Hardt Of A King scored his fourth consecutive win — and his third in a row faster than 2:00 — with a devastating six-length, 1:59.4 score over Blue Eyed Bondi (Don Harmon) in the $21,027 three-year-old male pace. Kramer drove the winning Manhardt-Earhart Hanover gelding, who is owned and trained by Kelly Goodwin, to his eighth career victory in 17 outings.
The other Michigan Colt Stakes Blue two-year-old winners on the card were Global Time (John Goodyear, 2:05.1) in the filly trot, Be Relentless (Tim Roach, 2:07.4) in the colt trot, and Doon (Harmon, 2:04.1) in the filly pace. The other sophomore winners were Capella Star (Lavern Miller, 2:03.4) in the filly trot, New Plan Stan (2:04.2, Greg Bateson) in the colt trot, and Spagz One (Kim Pluta, 2:02.3) in the filly pace.
Earlier in the week on July 23 at the Clare County Fair, in Harrison, Mich., a pair of two-year-old pacing fillies improved their career records to four wins in five starts. Aaron Colley's The Juke won her $6,849 Green Division section in 2:05.4; Maize N Boo, driven by trainer Tim Roach, followed with a 2:04 win in her split. In the $13,699 three-year-old filly pace, Bbs Tonicfor Jetta and trainer-driver Rex Putnam scorched the Harrison oval with a 1:59.3 win for owner Rebecca Putnam.
The Michigan fair harness racing circuit moves to Ludington, Mich., for a three-day stand beginning on Sunday, August 3. Post time on Sunday and Monday is 4:30 p.m.; post time Tuesday is 1 p.m.
(With files from the Michigan Harness Horsemen's Association)