The Sunday night, May 21 Running Aces harness racing card featured the return of local favourite Roland N Rock to the Minnesota oval to headline the $11,000 Open Handicap Pace.
He did not disappoint his loyal fans and pari-mutuel backers as he turned in a dazzling performance as expected.
Assigned the outside post in the eight-horse field, driver Nick Roland sent “Rocky” out quickly in search of the lead, but found plenty of competition for the top spot, and opted to float back into the four-hole as they checked in at the quarter in a swift :26.4. From there, the duo sat patiently through the half in :56.1 before launching their attack, first with a second-over position nearing three-quarters (1:24) and then a quick three-wide brush to take command turning for home, pacing away from the field to score by two and a quarter lengths in 1:52.2 with a :28 final quarter and a final half in :55.3 SF Donttellonme (J. Casagranda) rounded out the exacta off of an early pocket trip, while pacesetter Easy Again (R. Magee) checked in third.
Roland N Rock (by Rocknroll Hanover) returned $3.60 for a $2 mutuel, after posting his third win of the season and boosting his seasonal bankroll to $117,450 for owners Duane and Connie Roland.
Firedrake ($5.20) did not disappoint in his 2017 debut as well, delivering as co-favourite in a nice $6,400 conditioned pacing event. Firedrake and trainer/driver Nick Roland secured a pocket trip behind Bo Master and found his way up the inside of the track late to score a nice win by one and a quarter lengths in 1:56.1
Firedrake is owned by Jessica Johnson, and the four-year-old gelding by Dragon Again now sports seven wins in 16 lifetime tries. The win also completed the back-to-back double for Roland.
Steve Wiseman posted a grand slam with four wins on the Sunday night card. Wiseman fans were rewarded in the opener as he scored aboard Art Genta paying $3.40, race three ($2.60) with Muscle Beach, race four steering Cenalta Diesel ($7.60) and race 10 with a $4.80 mutuel aboard Magnifique. Wiseman had a triple on the opening night card, and jumps out to the early lead in the driver standings.
Lemoyne “Mooney” Svendsen picked up his second driving double in a row with the two biggest prices of the night, Losira in race five ($18.60) and Hi Hos Little Rev ($21.00) in race nine.
Live Racing returns to Running Aces this coming Tuesday, May 23 with a first post of 7 p.m. CDT.
(Running Aces)