By Kimberly Rinker for The USTA

Crete, IL — Earndawg captured the $186,000 Orange & Blue Championship Pace in a career best 1:52.4 for trainer Roger Welch, with Todd Warren driving. The freshman son of Sportsmaster pushed his earnings to $115,478 with the win, the fourth of his career and his third straight at Balmoral Park. The gelding is owned by a trio of William P. Delong of Clinton, WI, William C. Delong of South Beloit, IL, and EJ Miller of Mt Horeb, WI.

Balmoral Park photo

Earndawg scored a career best 1:52.4 win in Saturday’s Orange & Blue Championship at Balmoral Park.

“I’m just elated over the finishes in here,” said trainer Roger Welch. “My hat goes off to Dale Hiteman (driving Rockin Cassinova) and Pat Curtain (driving King Of The Swamp) too, who finished third and fifth. This was a great race and to finish first, third and fifth is a great thrill.”

Earndawg got the lead around the final turn and simply held off his rivals, including second-place finisher DuPage’s Z Tam (Casey Leonard) and Rockin Cassinova (Dale Hiteman), third.

A total of 6,350 patrons attended the Super Night 14-race program, which culminated with the Orange & Blue as the final event. Total handle wagered on the evening’s card was $1,645,414.70.

Lorna Propes Championship

Let’s Go Higher captured the $118,000 Lorna Propes Championship for the second straight year, this time in 1:52 for driver John Delong and trainer Heidi Rohr. The 6-year-old daughter of Cole Muffler is owned by Jesse DeLong of Clinton, Wisconsin. The time was a seasonal mark for the mare, who pushed her seasonal earnings to $158,905 and her career bankroll to $460,435. Let’s Go Higher bested Dune In Red (Dave Magee) by half a length and No Respect (Marcus Miler), who picked up show honors. It gave the 25-year-old John DeLong his third Super Night Championship crown.

Balmoral Park photo

Unlocked cruised to a 1:50.2 win in the Pete Langley Championship for 3-year-old Colts & Gelding Saturday night at Balmoral Park.

Pete Langley Memorial Championship

Unlocked simply cruised to a crushing 1:50.2 victory in the $146,000 Pete Langley Memorial Championship for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings for Hall of Famer Dave Magee. Trained by Erv Miller, the son of Duneside Perch notched his sixth race of 2014 and his 12th career start, pushing his lifetime earnings to $251,697 and his seasonal earnings to $169,250.

“Dave does an excellent job of handling this colt and had a great knack for knowing just when to move him in the mile,” Miller offered. “He’ll have some open events to challenge him later in the year.”

“I knew he could clear whenever I needed to,” Magee said. “As soon as I asked him to go, he went, and he just kept going.”

Coming around the final turn, Unlocked swept by the three-quarter marker in 1:21.4, drawing off by some ten lengths. The win was the third championship victory for both Miller and Magee on the evening.

Tony Maurello Championship

Balmoral Park photo

Al’s Hammered scored a 1:49.2 victory in the Tony Maurello Memorial Championship.

The mighty Al’s Hammered captured the $112,000 Tony Maurello Memorial Championship for aged colt and gelding pacers in a stake record time of 1:49.2 for driver Bobby Smolin and trainer-owner Bob Phillips. The 5-year-old son of Droppin’thehammer used a grueling, first-over journey to knock out his 14th win of the season and his 35th career victory, pushing his lifetime bank account to $476,467. The tough pacer bested rival Iam Bonasera (Marcus Miller) with Fort Silky (Casey Leonard) close behind in third.

“At the half I saw the time (of :54.4) and I thought ‘we’re home free,’” Smolin offered. “This horse is amazing, simply amazing.”

Grandma Ann Championship

Thesleazyprincess, who captured the 2013 Orange & Blue Championship for freshman pacing fillies on Super Night, returned to the winner’s circle once again—this time wearing the $142,000 Grandma Ann crown for owner-breeder Marty Engel of Buffalo Grove, IL. Conditioned by Erv Miller and steered by his son, Marcus Miller, the daughter of Sagebrush tripped the timer in 1:53.1, adding $63,190 to her already hefty bankroll of $180,641.

“It’s great to have Marcus back,” said Engel. “The funny thing is, this filly had the exact same trip in the Orange & Blue Stake here last year and both times it’s worked out great for us.”

“The trip I got is exactly what I was hoping for,” Marcus noted. “I remembered last year’s race and sure enough, it couldn’t have worked out more perfectly for us tonight. I’m happy for Marty and happy for the filly.”

Thesleazyprincess bested the hard-trying My Little Bit (Casey Leonard) by a nose, while Party Hangover Two (John DeLong) got up for third. The victory was the third Super Night Championship for Marcus Miller.