The featured event on the Tuesday (May 18) program at Running Aces was the $11,000 Open handicap pace, with Frewil Dakota Sven emerging victorious in 1:54.2.
The public honed Numbered Account as the 2-5 wagering favourite, as the five-year-old Roddys Bags Again gelding was making his Running Aces debut with impressive lines from Dover Downs. The heavy choice got away from the gate last in the field of six, while Solongo went to the lead from post 4 before yielding the front to stablemate Frewil Dakota Sven near the :56.3 half mile. Once on the lead, the six-year-old son of Up Front Brad appeared quite comfortable and never faced any serious pressure. He had plenty left in the tank in the stretch-drive to score by one-and-a-quarter lengths.
Marktentwentyseven rallied from off the pace to pick up second, while Numbered Account faced traffic through the middle stages of the mile but picked up the pieces in third.
Frewil Dakota Sven, owned and trained by Rick Bertrand, now shows seven wins on the season and 17 victories overall. The two Minnesota-Sired horses in the field went one-two for a $188.80 exacta.
SB Bodacious ($2.80) scored an eye-opening tally in gate-to-wire fashion from post 4 in a $7,500 conditioned pace, controlling the tempo from the start. Trainer-driver Rick Magee posted fractions of :27.1, :56.3 and 1:24.1 before his five-year-old Voracious Hanover gelding turned on the afterburners and rattled off back-to-back panels in :27.3 to stop the timer in 1:51.4 for a career mark.
SB Bodacious, who is also owned by Rick Magee, was named divisional state champion in both of the last two Minnesota seasons, and he was never in doubt in tonight’s win- which was his 16th victory.
Rick Magee was once again the leader on the program, finding the winner’s circle three times for his second-consecutive driving hat trick, and he also picked up his second training double in a row. Nick Roland picked up his second driving double in a row as well.
Running Aces offers live racing every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, with first post at 6:05 p.m. (CDT).
(Running Aces)