Nine Ways was back in action at Running Aces on Sunday (Aug. 4) making his first appearance since becoming the first two time Dan Patch FFA champion on July 21. The star of the Tim Maier barn was sent to post as the 3-5 favourite from his assigned outside post in the featured $16,000 Open Handicap Pace.

Nine Ways served notice right away that he was playing with his "A" game yet again, firing hard from the far outside and overtaking Firedrake for the early lead through a :26.2 first quarter. Dean Magee kept his pacer rolling through the middle splits of :54.4 and 1:22.4 while turning away a strong challenge from Top Notch, who ultimately slipped into the pocket in front of Firedrake.

Nine Ways continued to pace strongly as they rounded for home and Firedrake raged with pace when looking for room, eventually surging along the inside. Nine Ways easily kept Firedrake at bay to the wire, getting home one-and-a-half lengths ahead of his top rival in 1:51.3 for his seventh-straight win while remaining unbeaten in six local starts this summer. A strong battle for third between late closers Annihilator and Fox Valley Nemitz resulted in a dead heat for that spot.

Nine Ways is a five-year-old Delmarvelous prodigy, out of the Cam's Card Shark mare Nine of Hearts. He now shows 10 wins in 28 starts this year, with $125,860 in seasonal earnings. Antonia Storer owns the $3.40 winner.

The $14,000 Open Handicap Trot event went to Winning Lyric this week, who swept the six-horse field from last to first from post six. Dean Magee was unhurried in the early stages with Winning Lyric, while My Uncle Cuz posted fractions of :28.1, :57.2 and 1:26.2, and French Eclipse was in the pocket.

My Uncle Cuz remained strong into the homestretch, but Winning Lyric and Pridecrest both charged hard on the outside. Winning Lyric got his nose to the wire first in the 1:55 mile delivering as the race favorite for his third win in ten starts this season. Edward Hernandez conditions the $4.80 winner for owner Terrence Smith.

Driver Dean Magee posted a Grand Slam of four wins on the card, and swept both feature races. Rick Magee picked up a driving double.

Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday, Aug. 6 with local post time at 7 p.m. (CDT) and a carryover in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot of $6,252.81.

(Running Aces)