Sophomore pacing colts grabbed the spotlight on Saturday, May 9th at Balmoral Park as a full field of 10 harness racing state-breds squared off in the $8,000 Taser Gun Stake.
Originally carded for last week's Maywood card, this battle turned out to be worth the wait for last year's divisional champion Earndawg, as the bay gelding scored by a hard fought half-length in a career best of 1:52.3.
Confidently handled by driver Todd Warren the altered son of Sportsmaster-Pacific Sister K was sent to the top after watching a fast leaving Dakota Roadster (Robert Smolin) speed by the opening panel in 29.2.
The lead was short lived for Earndawg as a hard charging Dixie's Boy (Casey Leonard) swept up to grab command on the backstretch, leading the field through a half-mile in 57.4.
The pace continued to quicken as the field moved around the far turn with Dixie's Boy showing the way. Earndawg was enjoying a pocket sitting journey at that point while longshot Casey At Bat (Tim Curtin) led the outer flow into contention as the field hit the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:25.2.
Through the lane Dixie's Boy continued to show the way but Earndawg was ready and raring to go as Warren secured racing room on the outside with an eighth of a mile to go.
Quickly blowing by the pace setter, the Roger Welch trainee instantly opened up a two-length advantage. Last year's Orange & Blue winner was not "out of the woods" yet though as he was all out at the wire to hold off a huge late move from 37-1 shot Dinky Dune (Pat Curtin) who came charging up the inside to finish second. Lucpark (Mike Oosting) also closed well to finish third, 3 ¼ lengths behind the winner.
Dispatched as the third choice in a very evenly bet match-up Earndawg returned $6.80, $3.60 & $2.10 while running his record to 9-4-2 in 19 career starts with earnings of $221,975 for the ownership group of William P & William C De Long and Ernest Miller.
Live racing continues on Sunday, May 10th, at BalmoralPark with a 10-race card getting underway at 7:10 p.m. (central). Sunday's $1 Pick 4 features a guaranteed pool of $25,000. The state-bred stakes action will also continue on Sunday with a field of nine sophomore trotting fillies slugging it out in the $8,000 Betzotic Stake which goes as race six. Sophomore pacing fillies will also be in action in the fifth race as a very competitive field of eight ladies will battle in a Violet Stake "prep".
Tom Kelley