The Sunday, June 15 harness racing program at Running Aces featured the weekly edition of the $19,932 Open Handicap Trot, which was won by BPs Lucky Star.

Escaper (Billy Mann) was slightly favoured in the win pool at 5-2 while Warrawee Whisper (Brady Jenson) and Iron Sharpens Iron (Rick Magee) both also received a lot of support from players at 5-2 and 3-1 odds, respectively.

Escaper charged swiftly from the far outside post to challenge Double A Goldrush (Luke Plano) for early control and landed on top as they passed the :28.1 quarter, forcing Double A Goldrush to accept the pocket position while BPs Lucky Star and Mooney Svendsen set up shop in third.

Iron Sharpens Iron was out and moving early and started to advance toward the leaders as they completed the half-mile in a moderate 58 seconds while Lexus Markus (Scott Cisco) picked up the cover.

Escaper maintained a solid lead down the backside through a third panel in :29 and Iron Sharpens Iron made a miscue as they headed around the far turn.

It looked like a two-horse affair as Double A Goldrush tightened in behind the leader near the top of the stretch but BPs Lucky Star quickly emerged from his ground-saving spot and was loaded with trot through the lane, taking the lead with a sixteenth of a mile to go before striding clear for a two-length tally in a seasonal best 1:56 over Escaper and Double A Goldrush.

BPs Lucky Star, a five-year-old gelding by For You Almostfree out of L H Fillybuster, is owned by his trainer Rick Huffman in partnership with Brenda Lovetinsky. Improving to two-for-four on the season, he paid $24.40 for the upset win. He now has 14 career wins with earnings topping $150,000.

Braggen Bliss (Nick Roland, $13.80) worked out a perfect pocket trip and charged through the passing lane to edge out heavy favourite Peanutbutterfalcon (Rick Magee) in the final stride to capture the $28,378 Minnesota-sired sophomore ‘A’ trot in a career-best 1:58.4 mile with SHS Southern Pride (Mann) home in third. The winner is a gelded son of Braggart and is also trained by Roland for owner Set The Pace Racing.

SV Medwyns Boy (Cisco, $19) captured victory in the $18,919 sophomore ‘B’ trot in with an impressive late kick from third to take command late and stop the timer at 2:00.4 while one length ahead of both Werewolfofwysteria (Jenson) and My Man Mahomes (Roland). The winner is a gelding by Be The Best and is owned and trained by Jenni King.

Nick Roland led the program with four driving wins, while both Rick Magee and Billy Mann had driving doubles and Maria Alvarez posted a training double.

Live harness racing returns to Running Aces with a nine-race program on Tuesday, June 17 that will feature a carryover of $7,577.50  in the 20-cent Jackpot Pick-5 wager, which will get underway in race five. First post on Tuesday is 7 p.m. (CDT).

(Running Aces)