The Sunday night (Aug. 14) harness racing program at Running Aces was highlighted by the Ron Banks Memorial eliminations and they provided fans with plenty of action and excitement. 

Rockin With Lou and Dean Magee were sent off as the 6-5 favourites from post two and Hottieonthehorizon with Luke Plano were also heavily bet at 8-5 from post five, and they both delivered huge performances in the first $17,500 elimination split. 

Hottieonthehorizon won an early skirmish with Suddenly Royal to establish command and post the opening fractions of :27.1 and :56.3 before Rockin With Lou made a breathtaking sweep to the lead from fourth and opened up by two lengths down the backside and onto the far turn to post the three-quarters fraction of 1:24. 

As they straightened for home, Hottieonthehorizon went after Rockin With Lou and the two impressive mares battled to the wire for a thrilling finish with Rockin With Lou ($4.60) holding on for a half-length victory in 1:53. Hottieonthehorizon was well clear of Rojo Caliente (Mooney Svendsen), who rallied for third, while Always Choose Chip picked up the fourth spot. 

Rockin With Lou is a five-year-old daughter of Sweet Lou and she now has 12 wins in 23 starts this year for owner/trainer Gerald Longo. The victory pushed her career earnings to $219,952. 

Bettor Trix N and driver Luke Plano were the overwhelming 1-5 favourites in the second $17,500 elimination split from post one and they did not disappoint their backers.

Rollin With Holly A (Rick Magee) left quickly from post six to take the early lead but Plano wasted no time in getting Bettor Trix N to the top of affairs and had the front as they passed the quarter in :27.4 while Rollin With Holly A settled down in the pocket. 

The action heated up quickly as Shirley Skip Shady was activated by Brady Jenson and came first-up near the (:56.1) half-mile juncture and both Shesureissomething (Svendsen) and Gottalovemyshadow (Chip Lackey) joined the outer flow. 

Down the backside and into the far turn, Bettor Trix N asserted her authority and began to open up on the field as they registered three panels in 1:24.2. 

The eight-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight was on cruise control in the homestretch and geared down at the wire for a three-length tally in 1:53.2.  There was a thrilling stretch battle for the minor awards and the remaining qualifying spots as Gottalovemyshadow rallied past the rest of the field to take the place, while Sweet Young Thing (Tony Kerwood) picked up third and JK My Girl (Brian Detgen) checked in fourth. 

Rollin With Holly A was home in fifth and was the fastest fifth place finisher from the two elimination races to garner the final spot for next week's final. 

Bettor Trix N ($2.60) is owned by Cathy Dessert, Darren Taylor and Chris Scicluna and is trained by Jessica Johnson. She now has four wins in 17 outings this year and career earnings totalling $310,978.

The $16,500 Open Handicap Trot went to All American N (Luke Plano, $5.40) for his sixth win in 12 starts this year. 

The eight-year-old son of Muscle Hill had no trouble making the lead from post nine and led at every call, holding off a strong late challenge from pocket-sitter Bringoverthemoney (Dean Magee) to win by a neck in 1:55.3 with Mind Yown Business (Brady Jenson) picking up third money. 

All American N is owned and trained by Maria Alvarez and races from the Williams Hernandez stable. 

Poko Loki (Lackey, $20.40) pulled the upset in the $16,500 Minnesota-sired sophomore 'A' trot with a front-running 1-3/4-length score in a career best 1:58.2 for owners Ulf and Susan Holm-Johansen. 

Cobra Venom (Gary Magee, $6.40) posted a dominating 5-1/2-length win in 2:00.3 in the $9,900 'B' split for his second career win. He is also owned and trained by Magee, and also owned by Donna Magee. 

Need More Cowbell (Dan Roland, $2.80) registered his third career win to take the $6,600 'C' division by three-quarters of a length in 2:00.2 for owners Jeralene Roland, Vickie Rush and Kara Morales. 

Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday (Aug. 16) with a 10-race program that will feature two carryover pools, including $10,086.55 for the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager and $1,949.55 for the 50-cent Hi-5 wager. Post time at Running Aces is 7 p.m. (CDT). 

(With files from Running Aces)