There are horses… and there are courses… and then there are certain horses for certain courses. Expresso Forte, a nine-year-old Precious Bunny gelding, is definitely a horse for the Running Aces course.

Ever since he stepped foot onto Minnesota’s first commercial track in 2008, Expresso Forte has been a force to be reckoned with against open competition. He has won at least three races at Running Aces in each of the four years racing has been conducted and currently is on a three-race win streak. Last night, driver Joey Mapes charged off the gate from Post 8 in the weekly $9,000 pacing feature. After having tripped the timer in :29.1 at the quarter, the winner yielded to Cowboy Hanover (driven by Nick Roland) through middle fractions of :57.2 and 1:25.2 before making his second move. Expresso Forte closed in :28.4 and won by a half-length over At Last (Dean Magee) in 1:54.2. Expresso Forte is trained by Mapes’ father, Ricky, and is owned by Charter Bryant.

In the weekly $8,000 Open Trot, also contested Sunday night, Rompaway Brandon (Dan Maier) wired a field for the third straight time, second in open competition. The five-year-old son of Yankee Ryder is owned and trained by Maier’s wife, Linda Magnusson. Captain Korki (Dean Magee) and Vyce (Evan Coblentz) completed the trifecta in the co-featured race.

A pair of second leg ‘Claim To Fame’ divisions were also contested, with Jimenys Star (Dean Magee) and Peel Away (Will Roland) emerging victorious in their respective $5,000 splits for $5,000 claimers. Heading into the third and final preliminary leg next Sunday, there have been no repeat winners in the series, as Comprehensive and FWF Successor won the opening leg divisions. The series will conclude with a $9,500 championship final on July 3.

Driver Nick Roland had a ‘grand slam’ on Sunday night with four wins on the nine-race card. The 28-year-old native of Iowa reached the wire first with Grand Marshall, Realbadcombination, Rolltideroll and No Swipen Swiper. Three of those winners are trained by Nick’s sister, Tessa Roland, who enjoyed her finest evening in her young conditioning career.

The $157,668 handle on the Sunday card set an all-time Running Aces record. The 50-cent Pick 6 wager went unsolved again, although a five-of-six consolation payoff was $103.90. The carryover in the Pick 6 when racing resumes at Running Aces on Tuesday night will be $1,313.77.

(Running Aces)