Domovoy became the fastest trotter ever at Running Aces with an impressive victory in the $21,233 Open Handicap Trot on Sunday, June 23.

Domovoy was making his second local outing and drew the attention of the betting public after a solid third-place finish last week at the top level. Luke Plano was tapped for the driving assignment this week and the pair was sent off as the 2-1 choice from post five among the talented field of seven square-gaiters.

Plano let Iron Sharpens Iron (Brad Irvine) go to the front early before making his move to take the lead just before the :27.4 quarter-mile. Iron Sharpens Iron tracked in the pocket as Domovoy got settled on the lead and Grab Da Moni (Rick Magee) launched a first-over bid near the :56.2 half-mile juncture.

Domovoy kicked into high gear down the backstretch and opened up by six lengths before Grab Da Money took over the second spot near the fast three-quarter clocking in 1:24.1.

Grab Da Moni briefly closed the gap to four lengths, but as they straightened for the finish, Domovoy again kicked into high gear and kicked clear to score by an eye-opening 6-3/4-lengths with seemingly more to give while Grab Da Moni was second best and well clear of Majestic J (Elson Miller), who rallied late for third.

Domovoy became the fastest trotter ever at Running Aces when the timer flashed 1:53 for the mile. He smashed the previous overall trotting record of 1:53.4 that was established in 2018 in addition to the record for four-year-old geldings (1:54.4 in 2023).

Trained by Edwin Quevedo, the winner is by Triumphant Caviar out of the Chip Chip Hooray mare Nessa Rose and is owned by Dave Dobbelmann and Tom Carney. The record time was also a new career mark for the winner of 12 races and $168,705. Domovoy paid $6.40 to win.

The Sunday card alos featured two eliminations for the 2024 Ron Banks Memorial Free-For-All Mares Pace, each going for a purse of $23,973.

Better Double Flip (Dean Magee, $38.20) pulled the upset in the first split in 1:52.3. After getting away fourth early, Magee sent the five-year-old daughter of Betterthancheddar on a first-over mission, stalking race leader and favourite Majors Miracle (Miller) through the final half-mile, and surged past in the lane for a 1-1/4-length victory while Racin For Royalty (Brady Jenson) picked up third money.

The winner is owned by Wilson Racing Stable Inc., and Ann Calvert and is trained by Tim Wilson Jr along with assistant Jenni De Menge.

Illusion Seelster (Jacob Cutting, $4.20) posted a powerful gate-to-wire performance in the second division in a very fast 1:51.1 mile, checking home one length better than Two Pistol Annie (James Kennedy) with Aint She Special (Plano) getting home in third.

The winner is a four-year-old daughter of State Treasurer owned by Terrence Smith and trained by Williams Hernandez.

The other horses that earned spots in the Banks Memorial final include fourth-place finishers Fox Valley Leah and Graceful Horizon as well as the fastest fifth-place finisher, Premier Delight.

The $35,000 USD event will be the feature race on the Sunday, June 30 program.

Trainer Williams Hernandez led the Sunday night program with four winners, while drivers Luke Plano, Jacob Cutting and Rick Magee all posted doubles.

Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday night, June 25 for a nine-race program that will get underway at 7 p.m. (CDT) and will feature a carryover pool of $2,729.93 for the 20-cent Jackpot Pick-5 wager, which starts in race five.

(With files from Running Aces)