Illinois-conceived and foaled three-year-olds shared top billing on the Sunday night card at Balmoral Park, as a pair of Super Night Stake consolations headlined the 10-race card.
Trotters kicked off the action with a field of seven diagonally-gaited sophomores squaring off in the $20,000 Su Mac Lad consolation. The test turned into a stroll in the park for Ron Marino and David Hermann’s Nino Marino, as he stormed right to the front and never looked back in a three-length victory. The final time was 1:56.1.
Confidently handled by driver Dean Magee, the gelded son of Pizzazzed-Chargers Affair gunned to the top from Post 6 and proceeded to put up splits of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:26.1 while opening up a five and a half-length advantage at the top of the stretch.
On cruise control the rest of the way, the Randy Tuftie trainee reported home with his second win in 16 starts this season. Saint Simeon (driven by Rick Schrock) rallied late to finish second, while Photo Surprise (Todd Warren) was third.
The $21,900 Grandma Ann Stake consolation for three-year-old pacing fillies also produced a wire-to-wire winner, as Sawgrass Farms' Molly Go Lightly bested six rivals by a half-length in 1:54 for driver Dave Magee.
Using an inside draw to perfection, Magee put the daughter of Lexington Legend-Waggle right on the front where she proceeded to step through splits of :28, :57.4 and 1:26.1.
After opening up a three-length advantage by the mid-stretch call, the Nelson Willis trainee then held on gamely as a late-rushing Fox Valley Shiver (Todd Warren) came charging late to get the place money. Kiwi Party (John De Long) finished third.
The win was the third in 15 starts this season for Molly Go Lightly, who now boasts career earnings of just over $98,000.
(Balmoral)