by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — It certainly wasn’t easy, but Lloyd Arnold’s world champion Quik Pulse Mindale made his 2005 debut a winning one in Saturday night’s $20,750 Free For All Pace at Balmoral Park.

Chrissy Koeppen Photo

Quik Pulse Mindale (#5) returned in grand fashion as he edged out Color Me Best (#3) in 1:51.2.

Returning from a 15-week layoff, the four-year-old son of Jenna’s Beach Boy was the beneficiary of a nice second over journey as he scored by a neck in 1:51.2. After tipping off his cover at the top of the stretch, the Mike Arnold-trainee roared home in a blistering :25.3 to get the victory. Quik Pulse Mindale, who last year paced the fastest three-quarter-mile time in a pari-mutuel start (1:19), cruised through a final three-quarters in an amazing 1:20.4 in Saturday night’s effort.

Last week’s winner and another world record holder, Color Me Best (Tim Wilson, Jr.) set all the fractions and held on well to finish second in another big effort. Big Sham (Andy Miller) was third, one and a quarter lengths behind the winner.