The Minnesota harness racing season's underway, with the first session of qualifiers going to post on Saturday, May 12 at Running Aces.
A total of 10 dashes went to post starting at 6:00 p.m., featuring four trotting contests and six races on the pace.
Track-record holder Banker Volo, driven by Nick Roland, turned in the fastest time on the trot, with his victory in 1:59.2, while the five-year-old trotting mare Whatevershesgot, piloted by Jenni King, turned in a 2:00.3 mile to best her qualifying field.
On the pacing side, the seven-year-old stallion Stevensville, reined by Rick Magee, was a gate-to-wire winner in 1:57.1 for the fastest mile of the night.
Firedrake, track-record holder and last season’s Dan Patch Free-For-All champion, took his qualifying assignment with ease, in a two-and-one-quarter lengths romp in 1:57.3 with Nick Roland in the bike.
The other qualifying winners were: Margin Call (Rick Magee) 2:04.2, SVF Cash Deposit (Elvin Zimmerman) 2:05.2 on the trot, and on the pace we saw Friskie’s Angel (Mooney Svendsen) in 1:58.3, Exsqueezeme (Mooney Svendsen) in 1:59.4, Lakota Law (Nick Roland) in 2:00.1, and a 1:58.1 mile by Elusive Image (Tony Huffman).
Running Aces will offer qualifying races again on Tuesday, May 14 with a 6:00 p.m. post, and the live racing season opener is on Saturday, May 19 at 6:00 p.m. (CDT). Live racing will be conducted three nights a week through September 15, on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
(With files from Running Aces)