Brady Jenson drove his own trainee Spiritofanoutlaw to a 22-1 upset in the $21,528 Open Handicap Pace at Running Aces on Tuesday, Aug. 19.
Jenson worked out a perfect pocket trip for Spiritofanoutlaw ($47.20) and surged past pacesetter and favourite Hezzz A Wise Sky (Dean Magee) late to post a new career mark of 1:51.3 for the four-year-old Western Trademark-Mariah Blue Chip gelding. PD The Big Easy (Brandon Jenson) followed in third.
The winner is also owned by Jenson, the defending driving and training champion at Running Aces who was recognized by the track for achieving his 500th career driving victory in the Wednesday feature race.
Spiritofanoutlaw returned $47.20 for the upset win.
Starstruck Fool ($4.60), driven by Scott Cisco, led every step and held on gamely by a nose over Sparklingchardonnay (Rick Magee) in a fierce battle to the wire in the $20,833 freshman fillies 'A' pace in 1:58 with Mary Tyler Mare (Billy Mann) a close third. The win was the fifthin seven starts for the impressive daughter of Karpathian Kid-Loving A Fool who is trained by Lino Pacheco and owned by Jeri and Briar Roland.
Set Free ($3.20) and driver Rick Magee completed a gate-to-wire score by a nose in the $20,833 freshman colt 'A' pace in 1:56.3 over Wild About Me (Brady Jenson) and Whatevrittakestwo (Luke Plano) for his fifth win in eight career starts. The son of Three Of Clubs-Hostess Lisa is trained Justin Anfinson and owned by Jay De Long, Ken Stauffer and Stephanie Anfinson.
The other freshman winners on the program included SV Shining Star (Rick Magee, $3.80) in the $24,306 filly trot in 2:01.4, SV Rough And Tough (Chad Svendsen, $5.60) in the $24,306 colt trot in 2:00.4, Not A Bluff (Brian Detgen, $13.40) in the $13,889 filly 'B' pace in 2:02.2 and Wannatalkaboutmeme (Mooney Svendsen, $3) in the $13,889 colt 'B' pace in 1:58.3.
Brady Jenson and Rick Magee both posted driving doubles on the program while Jenson and Justin Anfinson each recorded training doubles.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday, Aug. 21) for a 12-race program that will get underway at 6 p.m. (CDT).
(With files from Running Aces)