Minnesota’s 2018 Harness Horse of the Year was back in action on Saturday night (Aug. 17) at Running Aces.

Burning Blaze, who started from Post 7, headlined the field in the $16,000 Minnesota-sired three year old pace and took on a field of six rivals.

Driver Steve Wiseman sent the gelded son of Wind Me Up away quickly. The duo cleared to the front from a fast-starting Sweet Vivian (driven by Mooney Svendsen) with a moderate first quarter clocking of :28.1 while A Little Rusty (Dean Magee) settled away in third.

Wiseman orchestrated a well-rated mile for Burning Blaze, who carried the field through fractions of :57 and 1:26 with no pressure whatsoever. Burning Blaze had plenty in reserve for the stretch drive and peeled off a :27.2 final stanza to keep everybody chasing him home; including pocket-sitter Sweet Vivian, who was not able to make up ground on the leader, despite her own :27.2 final kick. A Little Rusty was able to hold down the show spot.

Burning Blaze ($5.60) has now registered three wins from eleven outings in 2019, with seasonal earnings of $31,970. His career numbers are impressive: 10 wins, three seconds and five thirds from 20 starts, with a bankroll of $85,220 for owners Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte and Edward Gutin. The winning trainer is Justin Anfinson.

Brady Jenson led all drivers on the program with two wins, including a ‘one-two’ sweep of Race 5, a $6,800 conditioned pace in which he drove his trainee, Selma O'Brien ($16.60), to her second consecutive score in a career-best 1:54.4 (his other trained entry, Nurse Nattie (Tim Maier), finished second). The Jenson-trained exacta paid a healthy $125.60 to lucky winners and loyal Jenson fans.

Live racing will returns to Running Aces on Sunday (Aug. 18) with local post time at 6:00 p.m.

(Running Aces)