The Thursday (Aug. 17) harness racing program at Running Aces was loaded with freshman and sophomore action in the Minnesota-sired program and there were many standout performances throughout the night. 

One such effort was seen in the $18,250 sophomore male pace by Dougsmonkeybusines, who rallied impressively up the inside of the track in the lane to capture his sixth win of the season. 

Driver Jacob Cutting sent Dougsmonkeybusines away quickly at the start and secured the pocket position behind public choice Im A Skoldier (Mooney Svendsen) while Polar Storm (Todd Warren) landed in third and Ex Why Zee (Brady Jenson) travelled in fourth. 

The early fractions were sensible (:28.4 and :58.4) and Im A Skoldier enjoyed an easy lead before Ex Why Zee came calling with a first-over attack down the backside. 

Those two battled around the far turn and into the lane with Ex Why Zee gaining a slight advantage, but Cutting had saved plenty of pace with Dougsmonkeybusines and he guided him into the passing lane late to surge through for an exciting three-way battle to the wire. 

Dougsmonkeybusines closed in :29 to prevail by three-quarters of a length over Ex Why Zee and Im A Skoldier in 1:56.1. He paid $7 to win.

The winner is sired by Wind Me Up and is out of the General Aidid mare Moonshinenmonkeys, and is owned by his breeders Rick Bertrand and Doug Flores. Bertrand is also the winning trainer. 

Deja Vu Babyboo and Apple Juice provided fans with a thrilling display of grit and competition in the $16,000 freshman filly 'A' pace. 

Apple Juice (Cutting) immediately went to the front from post two while TJB Secreharriet (Mooney Svendsen) grabbed the pocket and Deja Vu Babyboo (Dean Magee) paced third. 

Heading towards the far turn, Magee launched his filly to the outside and she quickly drew alongside the leader. Apple Juice instantly dug in and the pair traded blows throughout the final quarter-mile in a very exciting battle, which resulted in a photo finish at the wire. 

In the end, Deja Vu Babyboo ($6) got up by a head to post her third career victory. The top pair was well ahead of the rest in the 1:55 mile, with TJB Secreharriet holding third over stablemate Little Miss Boss (Jenson). 

The winner is by Karpathian Kid and is owned by her breeder Van Otterloo Stables and trained by Bob Lems. 

Gotubydashorthairs (Nick Roland, $2.40) picked up her sixth career win in the $18,250 sophomore filly pace in 1:55.3 with a one-length score over Wavzeka (Warren). 

The winner is a daughter of Wind Me Up, owned by Mark Anderson and trained by Gordon Graham. 

El Perrandero Q (Cutting, $12.80) was an impressive winner of the $16,000 freshman male 'A' pace in 1:56.1 for a new career mark. He got home one length better than stablemates Spiritofanoutlaw (Svendsen) and Boom Boom Bullseye (Luke Plano). 

The winner is also by Wind Me Up, is owned by Triple Q Stables and trained by Edwin Quevedo. 

The other Minnesota-sired event winners included Semicolon ($3.40) and Plano winning the freshman 'C' pace in 1:58.3 for owner Rick Davelaar and trainer Williams Hernandez, and Heart Of Harvey ($4), who took the freshman 'B' pace in 2:00 for driver Rick Magee, trainer Bob Lems and owner Van Otterloo Stables.

The $17,600 Mares Open Handicap Pace went to Scorecard Dandy (Cutting, $5) in 1:52.4 for the second straight week. 

The daughter of Sportsmaster held gamely in the lane over Disaronno Hill (Plano) and JK My Girl (Warren) for her sixth seasonal win. Nathalie Tremblay trains for owners Green Acres and Mike Kilmas. 

Jacob Cutting led the Thursday program with three wins while Nick Roland and Bob Lems each recorded doubles. 

Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday, Aug. 20 with a nine-race program that will feature a carryover of $10,424.79 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot. First post at Running Aces is 7 p.m. (CDT). 

(Running Aces)