Three-year-old pacing colt El Parrandero Q was never better than on Thursday, Aug. 15 at Running Aces in the co-featured sophomore pacing event.
Leaving sharply from post three in the $23,288 Minnesota-sired sophomore male 'A' pace, El Parrandero Q was first to strike the front before 1-5 favourite Fast Larry (Mooney Svendsen) took over the top and registered the fractions of :27, :55.4 and 1:23.1 while Jacob Cutting sat patiently behind the leader and Celebrity Status (Nick Roland) raced from third.
Cutting took closer order as they arrived near the top of the homestretch and tipped out as they straightened for the drive.
El Parrandero Q responded immediately and charged outside of Fast Larry who tried to dig in but could not hold off the late challenge.
El Parrandero Q got home a three-quarter of a length winner over Fast Larry in a career best 1:52.1 mile while Celebrity Status was well back in third.
It was the fourth win in eight starts this season for El Parrandero Q, a son of Wind Me Up who competes for owners Triple Q Stables and trainer Edwin Quevedo. He returned $23.60 to his win backers.
Deja Vu Babyboo ($11.20) pulled a mild upset in the $23,288 sophomore filly 'A' pace, charging home from third at the top of the lane to surge past Apple Juice and Delco Irene for a 1-1/2 length tally in 1:54.
Nick Roland was the winning pilot on Deja Vu Babyboo, a daughter of Karpathian Kid who races for owners Van Otterloo Stables and trainer Bob Lems.
Bapas Double Knot ($3.20) delivered his first career win in 1:56 to capture the $11,644 sophomore 'B' pace over Howl At The Moon (Aaron Lehman) and Sassy Top (Svendsen).
Elson Miller was the winning owner/trainer and driver.
Fox Valley Leah ($16.20) powered home in the lane to capture victory in the $21,233 Mares Open Handicap pace for her third seasonal win, getting home a half-length better than Two Pistol Annie in 1:53.4 while Majors Miracle got home in third.
Todd Warren was the winning trainer/driver and also co-owns with Lester Peters and Richard Tomei.
Brady Jenson led the Thursday night program with four driving wins and three training wins, while Nick Roland posted a driving triple and Cutting and trainer Lems also had doubles.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday, Aug. 18 for a big 12-race program that will feature the $35,000 USD Steve Wiseman Memorial Trot Final with a special "Whatever It Takes" themed night that will benefit the Colon Cancer Coalition. As per tradition, there is also a Wiseman night Hat giveaway.
Sunday is also Pepsi Family Night with specials and kid's activities as well as trout fishing, food trucks, Sole Survivor handicapping contest and losing ticket drawings.
Post Time on Sunday is 6 p.m. (CDT).
(Running Aces)