A pair of $8,000 Opens, a $7,500 mini-series final and an $11,000 open Minnesota-sired three-year-old trot shared the spotlight on Sunday night at Running Aces.

The Open trotters were the first of the four featured races to go postward and second choice Franky Provolone prevailed as he has so many times at Running Aces over the past three seasons. Robin Clements’ pride and joy used his customary closing kick to pass Jailer (Tim Maier) and Silence Son (Nick Roland) in the final eighth of the 1:56.2 mile. Trained and driven by Steve Wiseman, Franky Provolone extended his streak of first or second-place finishes to seven, including four wins in his six starts this summer season in Minnesota.

Shadows Image (Gerry Longo) extended his win streak to four in the mini-series final for non-winners of two pari-mutuel races or $10,000 lifetime through July 2. Since moving to the Longo barn in early June, Gary Liles’ sophomore Shadow Play gelding has caught fire. He equalled his 1:54.4 lifetime mark beating Super Son Of Sandy (Lemoyne Svendsen) and Liberty Flyer (Kim Pluta) in the lucrative championship leg.

The best Minnesota-sired three-year-old trotters squared off next with the diminutive filly Becky Badger Baby (Nick Roland) triumphing for the third straight outing and sixth of the season in eight starts for owners Royal and Barbara Roland and partner Dale Hein. Roland stablemate Go See Lo Go (Steve Wiseman) finished second with Sweet Nola Kate (Brett Ballinger) getting the show dough.

Party Hangover Two (Steve Wiseman) kept the theme of extended win streaks going when the top pacing mares took center stage. The four-year-old daughter of Party At Artsplace captured her third straight for owners Barbara and Donald Arnstine, Steve Chambers and Kathy Plested. Overcoming an assigned outside post position, the ‘Party Girl’ partied with De Valeria (Tim Maier) and Rev Me Up (Mark P’Pool) for most of the mile before throwing a :29 final panel to seal her 1:53.3 success.

Racing resumes Tuesday night at Running Aces with an $8,000 Open Pace and the first $11,000 Minnesota-sired freshman trot sharing top billing.

(Running Aces)