Rush To The Bank delivered another big win on Sunday (May 30) at Running Aces, capturing the $12,500 Minnesota-Sired sophomore trot with ease for his ninth consecutive win.
The standout Banker Volo gelding has dominated his division since hitting the track as a first starter and is now unbeaten since Aug. 25 of last year. Nick Roland sent the 1-9 favourite right to the lead from post 7 in a nine-horse contest and led at every call, turning back strong pressure from SB Sampsons Ridge through the middle stages, and then powering away from the field in the lane to register a four-length romp in 2:01.1 with a :29 final panel.
Ice Titan rallied to pick up second, and Oh Danny Boy was home in third. Rush To The Bank has now won 12 of 17 races for owners Jeralene Roland and Vickie Rush, and trainer by Dan Roland. He paid $2.10 to win.
The $12,500 Filly division went to Its So Fluffy who is also trained by Dan Roland for owner Kennedy Roland. Driver Luke Plano worked a perfect pocket trip from post 6 and attacked race leader The Royal Queen as they turned for home, easily trotting past that rival and holding off a late charge from Coatofmanycolors to score a one-and-a-quarter length victory in 1:59.3 for her third tally and a lifetime mark. Its So Fluffy is also a daughter of Banker Volo. She paid $6.40 to win.
The $11,000 Open Handicap trot event was also featured on the Sunday program, and had a talented field of five square-gaited rivals. Heavy favourite Mandeville (Nick Roland) was looking for his third-consecutive 'Aces' win at the top level, but made a miscue at the start that left him far behind the field.
Major Al-Mar was fastest off the gate from post 1 and set the early fractions of :28 and :57.2 before Susies Sister got rolling and brushed from fourth to the lead as they rounded the far turn. Hearduwhispermynam also launched a strong bid as they rounded for home, and Pridecrest shook free with plenty of late trot in the stretch drive to make it very close at the wire. Susies Sister prevailed in the photo finish with a neck victory in 1:56.2 over Pridecrest with Hearduwhispermynam holding third.
The feature race victory was win No. 20 for the four-year-old Claudius Augustus mare, owned by Lynchris LLC and trained by Jenni King. Susies Sister returned $12.60 for every $2.00 win ticket. Brady Jenson sat in the bike.
Drivers Mooney Svendsen and Nick Roland each scored doubles on the Sunday program, and Dan Roland registered a training double.
Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday, (June 1) with first post at 6:05 p.m. (CDT) and features a pair of Carryovers - $5,010.89 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager, and $2,128.48 in the 50-cent Hi-5 wager.
(Running Aces)