The Thursday (August 3) harness racing program at Running Aces was loaded with Minnesota-sired freshman and sophomore pacing events and the evening saw several standout performances. 

One of the most impressive such efforts was turned in by Ex Why Zee who posted a career-best score in the $18,250 sophomore male pace in 1:53, shaving more than five seconds off of his previous lifetime mark. 

Driver Brady Jenson floated away in fourth and sat patiently while Polar Storm (Todd Warren) and Im A Skoldier (Mooney Svendsen) traded leads through a fast :26.4 opener and :55.2 half. 

Dougsmonkeybusines (Jacob Cutting) was first to attack the leaders and he took the lead as they straightened for home. But Jenson had Ex Why Zee in a perfect spot, and they had plenty of late pace to surge past Dougsmonkeybusines and post a 1-1/4 length tally. 

This event was one of three on an early non-betting card. 

The winner is by Wind Me Up out of the Voracious Hanover mare Ellamennopee. He's owned by his breeder Merlin Van Otterloo and is trained by Brett Ballinger.

Apple Juice (Cutting, $5.60) was an impressive gate-to-wire winner in the $16,000 freshman filly 'A' pace in a career best 1:54.3 for her fourth career win in seven starts. 

The impressive daughter of Fancy Schmancy was never in doubt and powered away late from pocket-sitter Moonlit Night (Luke Plano), who held second over heavy favourite Deja Vu Babyboo (Nick Roland). 

The winner is owned and trained by her breeder Scott Banitt. 

El Parrandero Q dominated the $16,000 freshman male 'A' pace by leading at every call and drawing away from his rivals in the final stages to post a five-length victory while lowering his career mark to 1:56.3 in the process. 

Longshot Search And Destroy (Jenson) was second best and favourite Tee You Vee (Todd Warren) checked in third. 

Jacob Cutting was the winning pilot for owners Triple Q Stables and trainer Edwin Quevedo. The $2 win mutuel was $10.80. 

Disaronno Hill (Plano, $10.60) captured glory in the $18,500 Mares Open Handicap pace with a front-running score in 1:53.1 to register her fourth win of the year. 

She held gamely by a head over pocket-sitter JK My Girl while Crazy Cute was a fast-closing third. 

The winner is a five-year-old daughter of Racing Hill and is owned by Terrence Smith and trained by Williams Hernandez. She now has 18 career wins and earnings of $262,003.

Drivers Jacob Cutting and Luke Plano each recorded triples on the Thursday program while both Nick Roland and Todd Warren posted doubles. Roland also had two training wins along with Bob Lems. 

Live harness acing returns to Running Aces on Sunday night (August 6) with a nine-race program which gets underway at 7 p.m. (CDT). 

(Running Aces)