What a difference a week makes! After struggling with the turns and the footing on the half-mile oval in the Maywood Pace last week, Megan Rogers Racing Stables' Unlocked looked like his old self again on Saturday night at Balmoral Park as he completely dismantled eight other ICF three-year-old colt pacers while taking the $10,000 Betzotic Stake by 12-1/2 lengths in a career-best clocking of 1:50 over a track listed as “good.”
Eased away in fourth while a hard-leaving Cotton Eyed Joe (Robert Smolin) led the field through an opening quarter in :28.1, driver Dave Magee did not wait long before sending Unlocked to the top as the field straightened up for their journey down the backstretch.
Moving like a freight train, the son of Duneside Perch—Miss Major Power effortlessly rattled off an eye catching :53.1 middle half while putting up splits of :55.2 and 1:22.
With a six-length advantage turning for home, Unlocked proceeded to widen his lead while finishing off his romp with a :27.4 final quarter despite being under a snug hold from Magee. Sleazeburgernfries (Kyle Wilfong) shook loose late to head up the beaten brigade while Cotton Eyed Joe was third.
Despite the disappointing effort last week, the Erv Miller trainee was pounded at the betting windows again, returning just $2.40, $2.20 and $2.10 while running his career record to 7-6-0 in 18 starts with earnings of $118,672.
(Balmoral Park)