Harness racing driver Lemoyne ‘Mooney’ Svendsen earned his 4,000th career victory on Sunday, June 4 at Running Aces. The big milestone was achieved in race 10 when he delivered a big performance with the race favourite, Dance Traveler ($5.40), for a new career mark in 1:53.1.  

Svendsen wasted no time in taking control of the $6,600 claiming pace, sending Dance Traveler right to the front from post five. Once on the lead, he settled the seven-year-old gelding by Up Front Brad into a comfortable tempo and they registered the early fractions in :28.1 and :57 before turning on the afterburners during a quick :27.3 third panel, which left his rivals reeling. In the lane, it was all Dance Traveler and Mooney and they checked in 3-1/2 lengths ahead of the competition to capture the big driving milestone.

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Sixty-five-year-old Svendsen was born in Albert Lea, Minnesota and grew up in and around the sport in both Minnesota and Iowa before venturing to many different tracks across the U.S. during a career that now spans more than four decades. He has called Sacramento, California and Cal-Expo racetrack his second home for the better part of 20 years, but has been a regular fixture at Running Aces since shortly after the track opened.

Svendsen has frequently shared that he loves racing in Minnesota every summer where he is in close proximity to his close-knit family. He was inducted into the Minnesota Harness Racing Hall Of Fame in 2014 at the same time that his late father Lorenz was also installed. Svendsen shared that “that was one of the best moments of his life and career” and especially so because all of his family was there. Svendsen also recently talked about the approaching milestone and expressed that he was striving for it for his whole family, but especially for his dad above whom he “hopes will be filled with pride.”

In addition to his 4,000 wins, Svendsen has finished in the top three more than 12,000 times and has collected more than $15 million in purses for his owners and trainers along the way.

In other action, Rock Party came with his ‘A’ game on Sunday night, posting an impressive gate-to-wire victory in the $18,500 feature. The six-year-old son of Cantab Hall drew post one in the nine-horse Open Handicap Trot and took full advantage of the draw, as driver Todd Warren sent him away from the gate quickly and the pair was able to easily take early control, forcing Natural Kemp (Jacob Cutting) to settle for the pocket while Mind Yown Business (Brandon Jenson) settled away in third.

Rock Party held court over his rivals while posting fractions of :28.3 and :57.2 and turned back a firm challenge from Susies Sister (Mel Mullet) during the middle stages of the contest. All American N (Luke Plano) followed cover and then tipped three-wide as they headed for the far turn but Rock Party had already turned up the speed and was two lengths clear as they passed three-quarters in 1:25.3.

Rock Party trotted strong in the lane and was clearly much the best on this night, drawing clear for a four-length score in 1:55.1 while All American N landed home in second over Natural Kemp. He paid $29.20 to win.

The winner is owned by Chupp Racing Stable and is trained by Bob Johnson, who had a double on the program.

Iron Sharpens Iron advanced to a perfect three-for-three record in 2023 with a 3-1/4-length tally in the $22,000 Class A division of the Minnesota-sired sophomore trot. The Banker Volo gelding stopped the timer in 1:57 for his 12th consecutive win and paid $2.10 as the overwhelming favourite. Luke Plano was the winning pilot for trainer Dan Roland and owners Jeralene Roland, Devon Arp and Alfredo Villarreal.

Ice Splitter (Warren) recorded his first career win in the $14,500 Class B division, posting a 1:59.3 score by three-quarters of a length over BPs Lucky Star while Corona Cobra was well back in third. The Ice Machine gelding is owned by Brian Anfinson and is trained by Justin Anfinson. He paid $5.80 to win.

(With files from Running Aces)