The $21,233 Open Pace highlighted the Tuesday night, May 28 program at Running Aces and it did not disappoint racing fans, providing the closest finish of the night and putting the photo finish camera into overdrive.
Ynotthishos (Jacob Cutting) was sent off as the 8-5 public choice and he sprinted off the gate to grab the early lead while American Dreamer (Todd Warren) also left fast and secured the pocket position in front of stablemate Schwartz Bros Pat (Dean Magee). They remained the top three in the affair through the opening fractions of :27.1 and :56.3 before Caliber (James Kennedy) started the outer flow and Itll Be Fine (Jeff Hunt) followed cover from the back of the pack as the field stacked up down the backside of the track.
Ynotthishos still had control as they rounded past three-quarters in 1:24.4 with American Dreamer still snug in the pocket and Caliber close on the outside and stalking the leaders. As they straightened for the drive, American Dreamer was able to angle out from the pocket and went after the leader, and the top pair both paced strong to the wire, providing a thrilling battle and a lengthy photo finish to determine the winner.
After the dust had settled, American Dreamer ($10.80) was found to be the winner by the smallest possible margin, getting up at the last possible moment to register his first win of the year in 1:53 over Ynotthishos while last week’s winner Bombay Hanover rallied late for third.
The winner is a 10-year-old gelding by American Ideal, owned by Wilson Racing Stable, Ann Calvert and Mark Eichberger. He is trained by Tim Wilson Jr. along with assistant Jenni De Menge. This was career win number 33 for American Dreamer, who now has $478,736 in career earnings.
PD The Big Easy ($2.80) posted the fastest mile of the night in 1:51.3, making it two in a row at Running Aces in the $12,740 top conditioned pace for owner A Piece Of The Action, trainer Bob Johnson and driver Mooney Svendsen. It was the 24th career win for the six-year-old Sweet Lou gelding.
My Friskie Boy provided the fireworks on Tuesday night, posting the biggest $2 win payoff ($57.60) of the season to date with a very impressive effort in a $10,548 conditioned pace with Sean Smithpeters in the bike. The pair left alertly and secured the pocket position. They closely tracked the leader before making a move to the front into the far turn then drew away in the homestretch to win by 4-1/2 lengths in 1:54.4 to register the 49th career win for the 11-year-old Feelin Friskie gelding, who eclipsed the $300,000 mark in career earnings with the victory.
Brady Jenson, Mooney Svendsen and Bob Johnson all recorded doubles on the Tuesday night program.
(Running Aces)