Running Aces completed its second session of qualifying races on Tuesday, May 16.
The standout performance of the day went to Chip Again, a six-year-old gelding by Intrepid Seelster. He rocketed to the lead from the back of the pack and drew away from the field. He went on to post a five and three-quarter-length victory in 1:56.4. Most impressive were his closing fractions, he posted a final half of :55.2 and kicked home in :27.1 for driver Nick Roland and owner/trainer Justin Anfinson.
Owner/trainer/driver Jenni King opened up the qualifying card with two sharp wins, as she romped with her four-year-old trotting mare Whatevershesgot (by Sos Lunar Eclipse) in 2:02.1. She posted a nine and three-quarter-length victory at the wire, with a :29.1 final quarter. King posted a similar effort with her seven-year-old trotting gelding French Eclipse, who sat the pocket during the first half of his mile before taking control and leaving his rivals seven and a quarter-lengths behind at the wire in 2:02.2
Firedrake, a four-year-old gelding by Dragon Again – who was fifty per cent of one of the most exciting rivalries of the 2016 season at Running Aces (with Dakota Jack) – left his rivals in his wake as he posted a sharp gate-to-wire score in 1:58.2. He stole pedestrian early fractions of :30.1 and 1:01.4 and paced home in a solid :56.3 with a :28.2 final quarter. Firedrake is trained and driven by Nick Roland and owned by Jessica Johnson.
Three-year-old gelding pacer Okee Dokee (Voracious Hanover) posted a lifetime speed mark of 1:58.2 after parlaying his three-hole trip into a half-length score with driver Moonie Svendsen for trainer David Flinn and the Van Oterloo Stables.
Opening night of Running Aces’ 2017 live season is this coming Saturday (May 20) at 6:00 p.m. (CT). This season, Running Aces will introduce the 20-cent Jackpot Pick-5 wager, with a low 20 per cent takeout and a 50 per cent split between multiple winner payouts and the jackpot pool. Twenty-cent Superfectas have also been added this season, and the 50-cent Pentafecta (‘Hi-5’) wager will return by popular demand, the Hi-5 will be available in each of the last two races every night. Live racing will be held every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. (CT), and Saturdays and Sundays at 6:00 p.m. (CT) now through September 16.
(Running Aces)