Trotters were in the spotlight on the Sunday, July 5 harness racing program at Running Aces, with the $22,857 Open Handicap and two divisions of the Minnesota-sired three-year-olds going for $25,000 each as the night's featured events.

Fifty Rivers turned in a sharp effort in the Open Handicap to pick up his eighth win of the year. Driver Casey Leonard sent the four-year-old Fiftydallarbill-Hudson Jesse gelding into immediate action from the outside post six and they had to work a bit to get to the top and relegate Peanutbutterfalcon (Scott Cisco) to the pocket position. Once on top, the 7-5 favourite led comfortably throughout, with fractions clocked in :27.1, :57.1 and 1:26.2, before facing a strong late challenge from the pocket-sitter deep in the lane which resulted in a close photo that showed Fifty Rivers as the 1:54.4 winner by a nostril over Peanutbutterfalcon. Chapolier (Luke Plano) was third.

Fifty Rivers is trained by Kathie Plested and owned by J M F Racing of Freehold, New Jersey. He's earned nearly $160,000 this year from 22 starts while hitting the board 15 times. Fifty Rivers paid $4.80 to win.

Bang Bang Boogie rolled to his third straight win and his sixth win of the season in the Minnesota-sired male trot division with a very sharp gate-to-wire effort in a new career-best time of 1:56.2 with driver Rick Magee in tow. The 1-5 favourite checked home 1-1/2 lengths better than HM Magical Money (Nick Roland) with My Little Maverick (Brady Jenson) a solid third.

Bang Bang Boogie (New Jersey Viking-Caitrin Hall) is trained by Justin Anfinson and is owned by Stephanie Anfinson of Kenyon, Minnesota and Ken Stauffer of Withee, Wisconsin. The win mutuel was $2.40.

SV Shining Star, also driven by Rick Magee, lived up to the hype in the filly split, as the 1-9 favourite made a mid-race move to the top from third and proceeded to draw away from her rivals at every call from there. She won by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:58.1 over Anitras Dance (Luke Plano) and Model Good Looks (Brady Jenson).

The daughter of Be The Best-SB Wine Is Fine is also trained by Anfinson and owned by Jay De Long of Clinton, Wisconsin. She has finished no worse than second in her seven starts this year, with her seasonal win total now at four. Her win mutuel was $2.20.

Sunday's leaders included drivers Rick Magee and Josiah Miller and trainers Justin Anfinson and Gerald Longo, all of whom posted doubles on the 10-race card.

Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday, July 7 for a special "Harry Potter" themed night that will benefit St. Jude Children's Hospital and will offer "Dollar Night" specials and free bet drawings. On the pari-mutuel side, there is a carryover of $31,767.80 in the 20-cent Jackpot Pick-5 wager, which will get underway in race five. First post is set for 7 p.m. (CDT). 

(With files from Running Aces; photo of Fifty Rivers from a previous win)