With 72 degree temperatures, little if any wind and just a couple very brief rain showers, track superintendent John Betts and his staff had the Running Aces five-eighths mile oval in tip-top condition throughout the night.
And with six of the nine races timed in 1:54 or faster, the Tuesday night program at Running Aces was the quickest in its brief history.
Tyber Tyke won the $9,000 Open Handicap for the second straight week, but was able to do so in 1:53.2 -- almost two seconds slower than last week's 1:51.3 shocker. Driver Nick Roland was content to sit second throughout the mile before passing pacesetter Six Gun (Jason Ryan) in the stretch. One And Only (Luke Plano) rallied for third in the feature race. The winner is owned by Dorothy Miller and trained by Ron Wrenn.
The $9,000 Fillies and Mares Open was captured by Still Electric and driver Ridge Warren, who managed to hold off Blazing Fury (Rick Magee) by a head in 1:54. Daniel Rogers owns the winning nine-year-old mare trained by Don Sherman.
Quickest mile of the night belonged to local favorite Chewy Baca, a four-year-old Minnesota-sired gelding owned by the Van Otterloo Stables and trained by David Flinn. Regular pilot Rick Magee put the two and three-year-old Running Aces track record holder on the front end in a $7,000 conditioned event and just outlasted Armbro David by a nose in 1:53.
A similar $7,000 conditioned pace for distaffers produced a track record-equalling performance for three-year-old fillies when Show Runner (trainer-driver Tim Maier) swept from sixth at the halfway station to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.2. Owned by Denise Maier and Eileen Brodbar, the daughter of Little Steven has had a stellar 2013 campaign to date with six wins and seven place finishes in 16 starts. LaReata was second and Tykesa Moon garnered the show dough.
Other quick miles were turned in by Morwyn Hanover (Maier) who captured a $5,000 mares event in the nightcap; and Red Star Fiona (Plano) who turned in an impressive 1:54 clocking to capture a $4,000 claiming event restricted to fillies and mares.
The program also featured a pair of $7,000 Minnesota-sired races with Rails Of Victory (Roland) triumphing in the trot and Reds Place (Ryan Lems) capturing the pace.
The first leg of the Future Stars late-closer for green colts and geldings was also presented. Delco Liar (Magee) was clearly the best, holding off One Shark Road (Plano) and RD Rumrunner (Brandon Jenson) by over four lengths in 1:55.1. Justin Anfinson trains the winner in Minnesota for owners Jesse and Eric De Long.
Harness racing resumes Wednesday night at Running Aces with a 7:00 p.m. (CDT) post.
(Running Aces)