Running Aces’ $11,000 Open Handicap Pace on Sunday featured a compact but talented field of pacers.
The race figured to be a showdown between Roland N Rock – who was fresh in from Cleveland’s Battle of Lake Erie – and last week’s winner, SF Donttellonme, who won easily on opening weekend in a lifetime best 1:53.3.
Joe Casagranda fired SF Donttellonme to the front and cut the fractions in :26.4, :56, and 1:24.4. He fended off a furious charge from Roland N Rock (driven by Nick Roland) just past the three-quarters pole, and again as they straightened away for home.
Bettor In The Bank (Dean Magee) joined the charge late, but nobody got past SF Donttellonme, who held sway by a head in 1:52.2 off a sharp :27.3 final quarter.
SF Donttellonme is owned, trained and driven by Casagranda, who hails from Michigan. The Ultra-sharp gelding now sports five wins from seven starts this year and $27,934 in purses. He paid $5.00 to win as the second choice. Bettor In The Bank took second and Roland N Rock, the race favourite, was just a neck back in third. The 1:52.2 clocking was a new life’s mark, besting the 1:53.3 previous mark he took last week.
The three-year-old Minnesota-Sired Filly Trot went to Abbymara (Nick Roland), who stopped the clock in 2:01.3. She paid $9.20 to win. The filly is owned by Andrew Anfinson and trained by Justin Anfinson, both of Minnesota.
The three-year-old Minnesota-Sired Gelding Trot was won by Margins Echo. He was driven by his trainer, Rick Magee, for owner Makaela DelGiudice of Minnesota. He trotted in 2:02.4 under wraps and is now perfect after two seasonal outings.
Nick Roland scored a hat-trick on the Sunday card, and Rick Magee and Gerald Longo both picked up driving doubles.
The next card of live harness racing at Running Aces will head to post on Tuesday night (May 31) at 7:00 p.m. CDT. The carryover in the 50-cent Jackpot Pick-6 wager will be $1,510.71
(Running Aces)