SB Bodacious delivered another dominating performance at Running Aces on Tuesday night (June 15) in the $12,000 Open Handicap Pace feature.
Sent off as the pubic choice at 7-5 on the board from the outside post in a talent-filled seven-horse contest, pilot Rick Magee saw a host of other leavers at the start and opted to take a seat in sixth position for the early stages. Castle Flight (Luke Plano) and Zanetti (Brady Jenson) were fastest off the car and they battled for the early lead through the :27.1 opening stanza, with Zanetti forced to back off and drop into the pocket as they headed past the three-eighths marker.
Major Pocket A (Chris Scicluna) got rolling with a first-over attack near the (:56) half mile post, and the field was stacked up three-in and four-out as they headed for the far turn. Rick Magee pulled the trigger from third-over with a quick three-wide brush to circle the field and take control near the 1:24.1 three-quarter mile mark and he drew away in the lane to post a solid three-length tally in 1:51.2 for his fourth win in five local starts, pacing his personal back half in :54.3.
Parklane Jet (Dean Magee) rallied from the back of the pack to pick up second, while Castle Flight was able to hang in for third money.
SB Bodacious ($5.20) is a Minnesota-Sired five year old gelding by Voracious Hanover, and he is also owned and trained by Magee. He now has five victories on the season in 10 starts and 19 career wins, with lifetime earnings of $144,538.
Apex Seelster ($9.80) scored a career best 1:52.4 win in a $6,800 conditioned pace on Tuesday’s program, with Dean Magee in the bike for trainer Edward Hernandez and owner Jose Cervantes. Magee got away in fourth position and got rolling down the backstretch with Apex Seelster, eventually wearing down front runner He Grins Again (Luke Plano) while Elusive Image and Marktentwentyseven both rallied late from the back of the pack.
Luke Plano led the program with three driving wins and two training wins, while Gerald Longo also posted a driving and training double.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday (June 17) with first post at 6:05 pm (CDT) and will feature a Carryover in the Pick-5 Jackpot wager of $17,630.60 and a Guaranteed pool of $5,000 in the Late Pick-4 wager.
(Running Aces)