The favourites prevailed in the top two races on the Monday night (July 3) harness racing program at Running Aces.
American Dreamer was sent off as the 8-5 choice amongst a talented group of eight contenders in the $18,500 Open Handicap Pace and wasted no time in getting to the front of the affair from post seven.
Driver Todd Warren was on a mission to get the nine-year-old son of American Ideal to the top and they worked a bit to take the lead from Shamwow (Rick Magee) and then settled into a nice rhythm through the quick early fractions of :26.4 and :54.3. Maui (Mooney Svendsen) had also left alertly from the inside post and secured the third spot and saved ground throughout while Saddle Up (Dean Magee) tried a first-over bid. American Dreamer kept on rolling and recorded a third panel in :27.3 to keep everyone at bay then closed his effort out with a :28.1 final stanza to seal the deal for his 30th career win in 1:50.2 while Shamwow held second over Maui.
The winner is owned by Wilson Racing Stable, Ann Calvert and Mark Eichberger, and trained by Tim Wilson Jr. along with assistant Jenni DeMenge.
Favourite Handsome Harvey powered to his third straight victory in the $15,000 top condition event with a sharp-closing effort in the final quarter-mile to get up over Sneaky Hill (Brady Jenson) and Cheese Omelet (Todd Warren). His final quarter of :27 was the fastest on the charts for the evening and the mile in 1:51.3 was also a new career mark for the four-year-old son of Special Forces owned by Dave Haness as well as trainer/driver Luke Plano.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday with first post at 7 p.m. (CDT) and will feature a carryover of $18,707.29 in the Pick-5 Jackpot wager.
(With files from Running Aces)