Open Wins Headline Kennedy's Perfect Night At Aces

Caliber winning at Running Aces

Driver James Kennedy swept the featured Open events on the Tuesday night, July 23 program at Running Aces as part of a perfect performance.

Kennedy steered seven-year-old pacer Caliber ($6.80) to a sharp gate-to-wire tally by three-quarters of a length over Bombay Hanover (Luke Plano) and Intimidation (Todd Warren) in the $17,397 Open Handicap II Pace. Caliber was never in doubt in the 1:52.3 mile, which was his 22nd career win and pushed his total bankroll to $359,421. The winner, a son of Sweet Lou-Allstar Rating, is owned by Terrence Smith and Tony Beltrami and is trained by Williams Hernandez.

Kennedy also piloted Cash Money Twenty ($2.40) to his third career victory in as many starts, capturing the $12,329 Two-Year-Old Open Handicap Pace. Overwhelmingly favoured at 1-5 on the board, Cash Money Twenty went right to the lead from the outside post in the six-horse contest and led comfortably early before opening up on the field in the final quarter. He checked in 10-3/4 lengths the best while Tutto Bene (Warren) and The Minnesota Kid (Plano) rounded out the trifecta. The mile time of 1:54.2 was a new career mark for Cash Money Twenty and it is also the fastest freshman mile of the Aces season so far -- just one-fifth of a second off of the track record for freshman pacing geldings. The undefeated son of Stevensville-Hostess Lisa is owned by Heart And Soul Racing and is trained by Brett Ballinger.

Kennedy went three-for-three on the card, also winning his other drive in rein to Just Plain Loco ($8.20) in 1:52.3 for trainer Edwin Quevedo.

Trainer Hernandez posted a double on the program, driving his other winner, Speed Snip ($16.80) in a 1:54.1 mile to close out the Tuesday action..

Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday night, July 25 for a 12-race program that will feature a carryover of $12,357.50 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager, which will start in race eight. First post is set for 6 p.m. (CDT).

(With files from Running Aces)

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