Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Lis Mara Sets New Balmoral Record

August 12, 2006

Lis Mara won Balmoral's $21,500 Free For All Saturday night in 1:48.1—the fastest race mile ever by a four-year-old pacer in the history of the Crete oval. The four-year-old son of Cambest eclipsed the previous mark set by Dashing Diplomat in June of 2004. Andy Miller was at the lines in the $21,500 Free For All Pace.

Lis Mara’s time is only one fifth of a second off of the all-age Balmoral record of 1:48, set by Quick Pulse Mindale in September 2004.

Lisa Mara pushed his winning streak to five straight with the Balmoral win. Previously, he had won the $500,000 Breeders Crown at The Meadowlands in a blistering, world-record equaling time of 1:47.3 on July 29, and the $830,370 Canadian Pacing Derby ( in 1:48.4 at Mohawk on June 24). Since Lis Mara entered Miller’s 120-horse stable in early June, he’s won six races in 1:49.1—with that mark being his slowest mile!

"This horse has a good look to him," trainer Erv Miller said. "He’s a heavier made horse than most—muscular and thick-boned and he stands very well. He’s at the top of his game right now."

Miller acquired the pacer when owners MJG Racing Stables and Louis Willinger bought Lis Mara for $350,000 in June. As a yearling, Lis Mara sold for a mere $12,000 at the 2003 Kentucky Standardbred Sale, and he had earned $225,000 for his previous owners. Now, in just seven starts under trainer Miller’s tutelage, Lis Mara has added over $725,000 to his bankroll.

Miller said he was using the race as a prep for the upcoming American National on August 26 at Balmoral.

Lis Mara—who is now ranked by the U.S. Trotting Association (USTA) as the second fastest Standardbred currently racing—has eight wins, three seconds and a third in 13 starts this year, with $799,012 in earnings. Lifetime, he’s amassed $968,799, and was named the USTA Horse of the Month for July.