The Minnesota harness racing season kicked off on Saturday night, May 19 at Running Aces and Giggle Monster was one of the stars of the show.

The three-year-old gelding pacer by Wind Me Up was a freshman star here in 2017, winning seven of nine races. Tonight, driver Dean Magee parlayed a rail-draw into an early three-hole trip during moderate early fractions of :29.3 and :59.3 before launching first over to challenge command. After taking the lead before the seven-eighths pole, Giggle Monster kicked home gamely to hold a one-length margin at the wire in 1:57.4 in his 2018 debut, taking the opening night featured $8,800 three-year-old Open Pace.

Giggle Monster is owned by Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte of Iowa, and he paid $4.20 to his pari-mutuel backers.

Another sharp winner on the card was Lincoln, a seven-year-old gelding by Bettors Delight who fired strong from post 6 on the gate to establish command early, and never look back- leaving his rivals four lengths behind in the process. Driver Mooney Svendsen completed a hat-trick on the card with the 1:56.1 tally for Owner Robin Clements and Trainer Richard Bertrand.

For Lincoln, it was his fifth win in 18 starts this year, and pushed his seasonal bankroll to $12,876.

Mooney Svendsen led all drivers on opening night with his three victories, and Steve Wiseman and Dean Magee both completed driving doubles.

Live racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday night, May 20, 2018 with a first post of 6:00 p.m. and a carryover in the 50-cent Hi-5 wager of $873 for race 7.

(Running Aces)