Scottsdale harness racing trainer Wayne Campbell will make a decision on whether to enter his two-year-old gelding Ken Two Stars for next Sunday night's Dandy Patch sires stakes final tomorrow morning following the gelding's impressive win in the Single Again Pace over 1609 metres on Sunday night.
Ken Two Stars (Courage Under Fire-Sharevonah) outgunned a small field of four at what was only his second start but it was his tremendous turn of foot that excited driver Grant Hodges to suggest he could measure up against the state's best.
Campbell was delighted with the win and even though it was only a small field he was impressed with the way his two-year-old produced two sharp sprints in the run.
"We bred this horse and I've always had an opinion of him and on what he did tonight I'm inclined to let him have a crack at the Dandy Patch next week," said owner-trainer-breeder Wayne Campbell.
Driver Grant Hodges also was impressed with the speed Ken Two Stars showed during the race.
"His first two runs were good and tonight he was well placed to get a win and he never let us down," Hodges said.
"He's got a real good turn of foot and to be able to use that twice in the race suggests to me that he could measure up against some of the better ones," he said.
Ken Two Stars settled last in the field of four but when the leader Striker Jim (Guy Allen) slowed the tempo Hodges sent his charge around the field to take control.
The Barrie Rattray-trained first-starter Kvitova Leis settled third but was the first off the fence to face the breeze and she moved alongside the leader halfway down the back straight the last time.
But just when Kvitova Leis looked likely to throw down the gauntlet to the leader Ken Two Stars slipped into another gear and rattled off a last quarter in 27.7 that gave nothing else a chance of overhauling him.
Ken Two Stars hit the line 3.3 metres clear of Kvitova Leis with Striker Jim 6-1/2 metres away third while Beena Regal finished last and about 34 metres from the winner after galloping twice in the run.
Peter Staples