CHAMPION pacer Smoken Up defied his age to set a mile track record in Ballarat last night.
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The all-time great of Australian harness racing smoked around Bray Raceway in 1:53.1 in the $30,000 Laser Electrical Lightning Mile.
An 11-year-old, Smoken Up ($4.90) was always in charge once Melton trainer-driver Lance Justice found the lead in a hectic early charge.
His time broke Saab Quality’s previous track race record mile rate of 1:53.7 to earn a $10,000 bonus in the second running of the group 3 race.
Smoken Up’s early speed from a wide barrier was responsible for a 26.3-second opening 400m.
He then earned a breather by running 30.3 before going home in 28.7 and 27.9.
Reigning Ballarat Pacing Cup and AG Hunter Cup champion Mah Sish ($24.10) ran the best race of his career over the short trip to charge home for a second, with Keayang Cullen ($5.60) third.
Restrepo ($1.60 favourite) initially held the early battle for the lead before handing up to Smoken Up.
Once tucked away behind Smoken Up, Restrepo was never a contender and finished fifth
Smoken Up has now won 70 times in a career of 136 starts.
The victory lifted his earnings past $3.5million and left no doubt there is plenty of life in the old boy yet.
Earlier in the night, Clancys Fobwatch ($2.30 favourite) completed a clean sweep of the Snowball Series.
Trained by Ross Sugars at Hopetoun and driven by Greg Sugars, Clancys Fobwatch took out the $10,500 final, 2200m, in a mile rate of 1:57.8.
The four-year-old has now won fives races in a row, including a Snowball heat at Charlton and semi-final at Maryborough.
david.brehaur@fairfaxmedia.com.au