Escaper and driver Billy Mann prevailed in a blanket finish of top level trotters at Running Aces in the $23,611 Open Handicap on Sunday night, Sept. 14.
Escaper was the 7-5 public choice from post seven in the feature while Baby Flash (Brady Jenson) was the 2-1 second choice from post three and All Champy (Mooney Svendsen) started from post six and was the clear third choice at 7-2.
Bringoverthemoney (Dean Magee) surged out quickly from post four at 11-1 to get the first call before Escaper surged from his outside post to sweep up and take command, relegating Bringoverthemoney to the pocket spot while 8-1 shot Lexus Markus (Scott Cisco) also left alertly to get away in the third position.
Escaper held a comfortable lead throughout, posting fractions of :27.1, :57.3 and 1:26. Baby Flash launched a first-over bid during the middle stages and applied moderate pressure to the leaders with All Champy following the cover from mid-pack.
In the lane, Escaper kept on going while All Champy tipped off his cover with a strong surge and Lexus Markus shook free to charge between horses late, but Escaper got home first by a head over All Champy in 1:55.3 with Lexus Markus only beaten a neck in third.
The winner is a four-year-old gelding by Muscle Hill out of the Cantab Hall mare, Expectations. Escaper is trained by Maria Alvarez and owned by Rotiboy4Eva Racing Stable of Wind Gap, Pennsylvania. He now has 11 wins in 24 starts and earnings of $157,043 on the season.
Escaper paid $4.80 to win.
Driven by Rick Magee, Peanutbutterfalcon ($2.60) went gate-to-wire in the $24,306 Minnesota-sired sophomore colt trot for his ninth straight win and his 11th of the season, scoring a one-length tally over Braggen Bliss (Luke Plano) in a new career mark of 1:57.1 while SV Medwyns Boy (Scott Cisco) was home in third.
The winner is a gelded son of Quality Kemp out of Lindys On Fire and is owned by his breeder Jeralene Roland while trained by Dan Roland. The victory pushed his seasonal earnings to $142,558.
Quality Kid ($15.60) pulled off a 6-1 upset in the $24,306 Minnesota-sired filly trot for her third career victory and a new mark of 1:58.3. With Billy Mann in the bike, the daughter of Quality Kemp out of Barefoot Brook surged late to post a half-length tally over SHS Southern Pride (Rick Magee) and Flora Cash (Brandon Jenson). The winner is trained by Justin Anfinson and owned by Jay De Long, Ken Stauffer and Stehanie Anfinson.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday, Sept. 16 to kick off the final week of the 2025 season. Post time on Tuesday is set for 7 p.m. while the final two nights of the season will be Friday and Saturday with post time at 6 p.m. for both nights.
(With files from Running Aces)