Kim Pluta mapped out the winning trip for R Gauwitz Hanover, who defeated race favourite Del Rio Seelster (Tim Maier) and Restless Yankee (Nick Roland).
Laurie Patistas owns the five-year-old gelded son of Modern Art. It was the 12th career tally for the winner from just 48 lifetime starts. He is trained in Minnesota by Jason Ryan, who drove stablemate Threestepstoheaven to a fourth-place finish in the same heat.
The quick time was one of five races that ended in 1:53 and change clockings on the night. Others were won by Silver Spir (Tim Maier) in 1:53.3 to best an $8,000 top conditioned class; Lifetime Louie (Rick Magee) who won a $6,500 conditioned race in 1:53.3; Gogetembrady (Tim Roach) who destroyed a $5,500 conditioned field in 1:53.4; and Second Thoughts (Tim Roach) who surprised a $2,500 bottom conditioned class in 1:53.4. Roach trains both of the horses he steered to victory.
Driver Jason Ryan scored a triple on the program, while reinsman Rick Magee, as well as Roach, notched doubles.
On the training side, conditioner Jesse DeLong and assistant Tabitha Canaar triumphed in both $6,500 splits of the Minnesota-sired three-year-old trots. Chewy Dunkerton (Nick Roland) won the colts split in 2:00.4 and stablemate She's A Foxie Lady (Jason Ryan) won the fillies division in 2:00.2.
Trainer George Reider also sent two to the winner's circle in Lifetime Louie and the trotter Axle (Rob Dinning), who scored in 1:57.3 in a $6,000 top conditions race.
(Running Aces)