The featured event Tuesday, August1 at Running Aces was the $10,000 Open Handicap Trot, and it was a three-year-old colt by Jailhouse Jesse that stole the show.
Ideal Jesse got up in the final stride to win by a head in 1:56.3. Ideal Jesse ($3.60) is no stranger to success at Running Aces, as the talented youngster set a track record of 1:56.1 for three-year-old colt trotters back in June.
In Tuesday's six-horse contest, James Yoder – who owns, trains and drives the colt – angled his charge into the pocket from Post 5 and waited patiently for some room in the open stretch. When all was said and done, Ideal Jesse got up at the wire to defeat Natural Forces, who was driven by Dean Magee on the front end. Ideal Jesse is also owned by Jesse Yoder, and the colt now sports seven lifetime wins in 24 starts, and has bankrolled $51,680.
Ideal Jesse (inside) victorious at Running Aces on Tuesday, August 1, 2017
The $8,000 Two-Year-Old Open Pace was won by heavy favourite Giggle Monster ($3.20), who had Dean Magee in the sulky for trainer Denise Maier and owners Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte. Giggle Monster was wide in the early stages from Post 8 while working to the lead. He cleared just past the quarter pole and was never in doubt from there. Giggle Monster posted a one and a half-length win in 1:58. The gelding by Wind Me Up has now won four of five lifetime races and $20,900.
The $13,000 Minnesota-Sired Two-Year-Old Trot was won by The Sweetest Thing (driven by Dean Magee), a filly by Money Talks who picked up her first career victory after the original winner, Bragginade (Luke Plano), was disqualified for failure to maintain the proper gait. The Sweetest Thing ($47.40) is owned and trained by Alexia Kehl, and she trotted the mile in 2:03.1.
Two drivers dominated the proceedings on Tuesday night, as Dean Magee capturing four of the first five races to post a grand slam, and Steve Wiseman swept the last four races on the card to post his third grand slam in the last two weeks of racing.
Live racing will return to Running Aces on Saturday, August 5 with a first post of 6:00 p.m. (CDT) and a carryover in the 20-cent Jackpot Pick 5 wager of $24,013.49.
(Running Aces)