Running Aces Casino & Racetrack, in conjunction with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering platform, has announced a guarantee of at least $5,000 in this Sunday night’s 50-cent Pick Six wager.

The wager covers Races 5 through 10 on the program. Post time for the first race is 6 p.m. (Central).

With a carryover in excess of $2,000 and an inviting fan-friendly menu of races, officials at Running Aces expect to not only meet — but most likely exceed — the $5,000 guaranteed pool.

The first three races that comprise the Pick Six are six-horse fields, which should help many bettors stay alive in the exotic wager going into the final three which feature a seven and two eight-horse fields. The races, in order, include a division of a mini-series for non-winners of two races or $10,000 lifetime, a non-winners of four races or $20,000, a Mares Open pace, a non-winners $2,000 in last four trot, a mares non-winners $3,000 last four or $7,500 claimers pace, and a distaff non-winners of $1,250 last four or $3,500 claimers pace.

Recent winner Super Son Of Sandy has been installed as the morning line favorite in Leg 1 for driver-trainer Lemoyne Svendsen, but could get stern competition from Got Yourself A Gun (to be driven by Dean Magee), Magic Number (Rick Magee), Shotgun Rider (Steve Wiseman), Have Mercy On Me (Kim Pluta) and Tawa Road (Tony Succarotte) in the balanced field.

Linkjack Hanover (Rick Magee) will likely be a heavy favourite in Leg 2, based on his nine wins and four place finishes from 14 career starts, but Red Pine (Nick Roland), Flukie Flight (Gerry Longo) and Empty Gesture (Tim Maier) are also in exceptional current form.

Rev Me Up (Mark P’Pool) has been awarded the slight morning-line favourite designation in the $8,000 Mares Open with De Valieria (Tim Maier) and Boom Boom Shaboom (Dean Magee), moving into the open with four consecutive victories, expected to offer the biggest challenges.

The fourth-leg trot race offers a challenging handicapping puzzle, as mid-range condition trots often do. Rich Dessert (Tim Maier), French Eclipse (Jenni King) and T U R B (Nick Roland) got the top three nods from the local morning line oddsmaker.

Country Jewel (Nick Roland) is the likely betting favourite in the fifth leg with Dream Roll (Lemoyne Svendsen), Drawing Dead (Travis Bowman) and Im Fasterthanu (Steve Wiseman) looking like prime contenders.

In what may be the most difficult race in the Pick Six, the final leg features eight mares that have all had recent top three finishes. Wild About Eagle (Steve Wiseman) is the lukewarm favourite from an outside post, but a case could be made for any horse in the field. Those with tickets still alive in the $5,000 Guaranteed 50-cent Pick Six pool on Sunday night at Running Aces will definitely be sweating out the finale.

(Running Aces)