Watchyastarinat Takes 'Aces' Pace
Trainer Gene Miller sent Whatchyastarinat into the $11,000 Open Handicap Pace Sunday, Sept. 2 at Running Aces alongside stablemate Bestinthebusiness and claimed the top two spots at the wire when Whatchyastarinat posted a 1:51.3 half-length victory over Bestinthebusiness.
Driver Lemoyne Svendsen sent Whatchyastarinat from the gate and had early command at the first quarter in :26.2 with race-favourite Holdingallthecards applying pressure from the outside before taking over the front through the middle stages.
Holdingallthecards led past the :55.4 half and the 1:24.1 three-quarters but was being hounded by Bestinthebusiness who was advancing uncovered to his outside. As they straightened for home, Whatchyastarinat joined the battle at the inside for a three-way charge to the wire, surging fastest of all to the line for a half-length victory over his stablemate Bestinthebusiness in a lifetime-best mile of 1:51.3 with Holdingallthecards home third by one length.
Whatchyastarinat, paying $7.00 to win, is a six-year-old Minnesota-Sired son of Up Front Brad. Owned by Wolfswinkel Pacers, he now sports 19 career wins and $104,623 in career earnings. The Miller trained exacta combination of 5-2 paid $35.00.
Bringoverthemoney picked up his ninth win of the season in the $8,500 Minnesota-Sired Three-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Trot with a two-and-one-half lengths victory over SB Fine And Dandy and Bragginade. Bringoverthemoney, paying $2.60 to win, is owned by Jasmine Horvat, trained by Brian Detgen and was driven by Rick Magee. The impressive son of Money Talks is certain to be the favourite in this division on the Night of Champions, taking place at Running Aces on Sept. 15.
Mimi Marguerite, driven by James Yoder, broke through for her first Running Aces win in the $8,500 Minnesota-Sired Three-Year-Old Filly Trot with an on-the-front score from post six in a 1:59.2 career-best performance. The daughter of Braggart had finished second in this division five times this season, but was finally able to find her way to the winner's circle tonight for owners Jeanne Marquis and Jesse De Long and trainer Justin Anfinson.
Live racing continues at Running Aces three nights per week through Sept. 15. The 20-cent Jackpot Pick-5 wager now has a carryover of $32,959.05 for this coming Tuesday night, Sept. 4 with first post at 7:00 p.m. (CDT)
(With files from Running Aces)