Peanutbutterfalcon extended his win streak to seven in Minnesota-sired sophomore competition while the mare Baby Flash was a repeat Open winner as trotters were in the spotlight at Running Aces on Sunday night, Aug. 24.

Peanutbutterfalcon ($4) registered his seventh straight win with a 1-3/4 length tally in the $24,306 Minnesota-sired colt & gelding trot in 1:58.3 to advance to nine wins from 10 starts this season.

Driver Rick Magee was content to float away in third with the even-money favourite while Mr Boombastic (Dean Magee) and Braggen Bliss (Luke Plano) went to the front -- the latter leading through panels of :29.1, :59.2 and 1:28.3. Peanutbutterfalcon got rolling as they headed around the final turn and took control as they straightened for home while Braggen Bliss was second best and Tutti Frutti Rudy (Gary Rath) rallied late for third over Mr Boombastic.

The winner is a son of Quality Kemp out of Lindys On Fire and is owned by his breeder, Jeri Roland of Sandstone, Minnesota. Trained by Dan Roland, Peanutbutterfalcon surpassed his freshman earnings, with his sophomore account rising to $118,252.

Its Gonna Be Mae ($15.60), driven by Sean Smithpeters, was a very sharp winner in the matching filly trot, getting away in third then making an impressive move to the top as they rounded the final turn and drawing away to win by five lengths in 1:59.2 over Flora Cash (Brandon Jenson) and favourite SHS Southern Pride (Rick Magee).

Trainer Alexia Kehl owns and bred the Lear Jetta-Sweet Elly Mae filly, who recorded her third victory of the season in 13 starts after a winless rookie campaign.

This week’s $21,528 Open Handicap Trot had a talented field of seven head into battle with Baby Flash, driven by Mooney Svendsen, getting the most pari-mutuel attention to go off as the 3-2 favourite while Escaper was a close second in the wagering at 8-5.

Bringoverthemoney (Dean Magee) was the fastest off the mark to take the early lead while Escaper (Billy Mann) left quickly as well to challenge for the front and Baby Flash also got away quickly to secure a spot in third. Bringoverthemoney had the call at the :27.4 quarter but Escaper surged past to take control near the three-eighths marker and was well settled on top at the :58.1 half-mile checkpoint.

Double A Goldrush (Luke Plano) launched an attack down the backside and Chiplosive (Williams Hernandez) picked up the cover and the field began to stack up as they headed into the final turn.

Escaper still had control as they posted the three-quarters in 1:27.1 and led the field into the lane while Baby Flash shook free from a ground-saving trip to come after the leader and Chiplosive tipped off cover for a stretch rally. Inside the final sixteenth Baby Flash surged strongly down the centre of the track to take the lead and edge past Escaper by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.4 while Chiplosive out-finished Bringoverthemoney for third.

Baby Flash followed up a career-best 1:55.4 victory against Open II company last Sunday and paid $5 to win here. The popular winner is a four-year-old daughter of Southwind Flash out of DJ French Baby and is owned by trainer Rick Huffman in partnership with Iowa's Keith Wilson and Brenda Lovetinsky. She now has four wins on the season in 11 starts and 23 career wins with total earnings of $222,253.    

Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday, Aug. 26, with first post at 7 p.m. (CDT).

(With files from Running Aces)