The top-level pacers took center stage at Running Aces on Tuesday night, May 26 with Cash Money Twenty winning the $20,833 Open Handicap feature.

When the gate pulled away, driver Nick Roland activated Noblesville from post four and got the first call with last week's winner Kurt Longjohn, driven by Josiah Miller, also surging fast from post five in hot pursuit of the front. Those two battled through a quick opening panel in :26.4 with Kurt Longjohn making the top before the three-eighths marker and Cash Money Twenty tracking the leaders from third for Casey Leonard.

Kurt Longjohn held court through solid middle fractions of :54.3 and 1:22.4 before Leonard made his move with Cash Money Twenty as they headed toward the top of the stretch. In just a few strides, Cash Money Twenty swept to the lead and then charged through the lane with authority as Kurt Longjohn was left reeling and Noblesville shook free and rallied late to grab second money in the 1:50 mile, which is the fastest of the season thus far at Running Aces and matched the winner's career-best clocking.

The winning margin was 1-3/4 lengths for Cash Money Twenty, a four-year-old son of Stevensville-Hostess Lisa who has been named the Illinois Horse of the Year for the past two seasons. He paid $3.60 to win as the bettors' choice.

The talented pacer is owned by Heart & Soul Racing of Des Moines, Iowa and is trained by Brett Ballinger. The win was his first of the year following a close third-place finish in his season's debut in the Open at Running Aces last week and marked his 21st career victory while his earnings climbed to $461,887. 

Brady Jenson had four training wins and a driving double on the eight-race program while Luke Plano posted both a driving triple and a training double.

Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday, May 28 for a 10-race program, The track will offer drink specials, food trucks, trout fishing and drawings for free trifecta bets. First post is scheduled for 6 p.m. (CDT). 

(With files from Running Aces)