On a card loaded with impressive performances in freshman and sophomore events, El Parrandero Q posted one of the biggest wins of the Thursday (Aug. 24) card of harness racing at Running Aces.
In the $17,000 freshman 'A' male pace El Parrandero Q powered away from the gate from post eight for driver Jacob Cutting to quickly establish command, and posted early fractions of :28.2 and :58.3 while longshot Search And Destroy (Brady Jenson) tracked in the pocket and Semicolon (Luke Plano) raced from third position early.
The impressive son of Wind Me Up turned back a very strong challenge from Moon Kid Photo (Chad Svendsen) down the backside by turning in a third panel in :28.3 and proceeded to open up on his rivals as they swung for the finish.
Heart Of Harvey (Rick Magee) made a big late move from the back of the pack to make it a race for second, just getting up for the place over Search And Destroy while El Parrandero Q cruised under the wire a 3-1/2 length winner in 1:57.1 for his second straight win.
El Parrandero Q ($3.80) is a homebred for owner Triple Q Stables, breeder Fabiola Quevedo and trainer Edwin Quevedo. He is out of the Party At Artsplace race mare Lil Miss Knuckles who was also campaigned by team Quevedo.
He now shows five wins from 10 career starts with earnings of $48,260.
Apple Juice (Cutting, $4.80) prevailed in another tough battle with chief rival Deja Vu Babyboo to pick up her sixth career win and post a new career mark of 1:54.2 in the $17,000 freshman filly 'A' pace.
Cutting sent the sharp daughter of Fancy Schmancy to the front and held court over the field before Deja Vu Babyboo (Dean Magee) came to call in the late stages.
Deja Vu Babyboo drew alongside and took a brief lead in the lane but Apple Juice refused to lose and dug in very gamely to surge again near the wire to post a one-length score while longshot Little Miss Boss (Jenson) picked up the pieces late for third.
Scott Banitt is the winning owner, trainer and breeder.
Gotubydashorthairs (Nick Roland, $3.00) rallied from off the pace and charged home in the lane to capture her seventh win of the season, taking the $18,250 sophomore filly pace by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:55.1 over pacesetter Wavzeka (Todd Warren).
The winning filly is by Wind Me Up and is trained by Gordon Graham for owner Mark Anderson.
Ex Why Zee (Jenson, $6.60) converted a pocket-trip into his third career win, capturing the $18,250 sophomore male pace in 1:54.4 over a fast-closing King Of Aces (Plano).
The winner is also a son of Wind Me Up and is owned by his breeder Merlin Van Otterloo and is trained by Brett Ballinger.
Disaronno Hill (Plano, $5.80) held off a furious late charge from Lucky Lil Lady (Kevin Wallis) to capture the $17,600 Mares Open Handicap pace by a neck in 1:52.2 for her fifth win of the season.
The five-year-old daughter of Racing Hill is owned by Terrence Smith and trained by Williams Hernandez.
Fast Larry (Jenson, $2.60) was a very impressive 7-1/2 length winner in the freshman 'B' pace in 1:56.3 for his first career win.
The winner is a gelding by Arts Chip and is trained by Jenson for owner Gary Carlson.
Minnesota-sired freshman trotters were featured with two early non-betting events. DP Freedoms Chrome stole the show in the $18,250 male division with a big performance in 1:59.4 to establish a track mark for freshman colts.
DP Freedoms Chrome is a son of For You Almostfree and is currently undefeated in seven career starts for owner Aimes Racing and trainer Elvin Zimmerman. James Gould was the winning pilot.
Banker Volo daughter Magnolia Moonlight made the most of her second career race by going gate-to-wire in 2:03 with driver Chip Lackey in the bike for owner/trainer/breeder Jenni King to capture the $18,250 filly division.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday night (August 27) with first post at 7 p.m. (CDT) and will feature a carryover in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager of $13,817.
(Running Aces)