The Thursday night (July 20) harness racing program at Running Aces was loaded with Minnesota-sired freshman and sophomore pacing events as well as the weekly top pacing mares events and fans were treated to some very exciting action on the track. 

Stealing the show right out of the gate was Deja Vu Babyboo, who posted a scintillating effort in the opening race to capture the $15,000 freshman filly 'A' pace in 1:54 for a new track record. 

Driver Nick Roland was patient in the early stages of the seven-horse contest and settled away in fifth with Deja Vu Babyboo while last week's winner, Apple Juice (Jacob Cutting), went right to the front and Delco Irene (Todd Warren) secured the pocket. Apple Juice posted strong early fractions (:28 and :56.3) and held firm control until near the far turn when Moonlit Night made a first over bid and then Deja Vu Baby Boo came calling three-wide to take the lead as they rounded for home. 

In the lane, Deja Vu Babyboo had gotten the upper hand but Apple Juice fought gamely and the top pair drew well clear of the rest. Deja Vu Babyboo ($3.40) edged ahead by one length to secure the victory and post the track record mile. Tjb Secreharriet (Mooney Svendsen) rallied late for third. 

The winner, a daughter of Karpathian Kid, now shows two wins in three career outings and has earned $26,000 for owner/breeder Van Otterloo Stables and trainer Bob Lems. 

Im A Skoldier (Svendsen, $5.20) rebounded from a narrow loss last week to pick up his fourth win of the season in the $18,250 Minnesota-sired sophomore boys pace in 1:54.2. The sharp son of Wind Me Up went gate-to-wire while last week's winner Dougsmonkeybusines (Cutting) was promoted to second and King Of Aces (Plano) was demoted to third for interference. 

The winner is also owned by Van Otterloo Stables and trained by Bob Lems. 

Tee You Vee was a very impressive winner in his lifetime debut, posting a dominating 7-3/4-length tally in 1:58.3 to capture the $9,000 freshman 'Class B' division of the colts and geldings pace over longshots Zee Kid (Smith Peters) and The Creature (Jenson). Todd Warren was the winning pilot of the Special Forces gelding for trainer Dan Roland and owner Merlin Van Otterloo. Tee You Vee returned $2.40 as the heavy favourite. 

Spiritofanoutlaw ($32.80) captured the $15,000 freshman boys 'A' pace with a sharp-closing effort to score by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:57.1 for a new career mark. Rocklikeahurricane (Warren) won a close three-way photo for second over Boom Boom Bullseye (Plano) and Rockymountainluau (Roland).  The winner is a son of Western Trademark and now shows three wins in six career starts for owners Cory and Katelyn Larson. Cory also handles the training. 

Gotubydashorthairs (Roland, $3.60) made it three-in-a-row in the $18,250 Minnesota-sired sophomore filly pace with a big closing effort to score by 3-1/4 lengths over Quite The Flirt and I Turn Heads in 1:55.2. The impressive daughter of Wind Me Up now shows four wins in nine career starts and earnings of $50,650 for owner Mark Anderson and trainer Gordon Graham. 

JK My Girl (Warren, $28.40) converted a perfect pocket trip into a feature race win in the $18,500 Mares Open Handicap Pace, getting up by a head over Graceful Horizon in 1:51.3 for a career-best mile. The winner is a daughter of JK Endofanera and is owned by Erika Huffman and trained by Bob Lems. 

Bunkerhill Lil (Dean Magee), a daughter of Vlos, and Western Chippie (Luke Plano), a daughter of Western Trademark, were both winners on the early non-betting card for Minnesota-sired freshman pacing fillies. The former captured the $6,000 'C' division in 2:01.1 for trainer Dale Lagerquist and owner/breeder Gene Miller, and the latter scored in the $9,000 'B' division in 2:00.4 for owner/trainer Duane Roland. 

Nick Roland led the Thursday program with four driving wins, while trainer Bob Lems posted a triple and  Mooney Svendsen, Todd Warren and Sean Smithpeters all recorded doubles. 

Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday night (July 23) for Dan Patch night, which will feature a gift giveaway plus Pepsi Family Night, food trucks and drawings. The 11-race program is highlighted by the $50,000 Dan Patch FFA. First post is set for 7 p.m. (CDT). 

(Running Aces)