For the second consecutive night, newcomer Luke Plano notched three triumphs on the nine-race Wednesday night program at Running Aces Harness Park.
The 33-year-old reinsman, currently atop the national UDRS standings for drivers with over 500 starts, has managed to take the lead in the local dash standings with 17 wins over the first 12 nights of the 53-night meet.
Plano's victories came with a pair of $3,000 claiming horses, Just The Way It Is and Candys Pool, as well as an upset win with Yank My Missile in a race restricted to Minnesota-sired aged pacers.
Driver John De Long fashioned an impressive driving double behind Crime Of Passion and Firstclassalltheway. Both are owned by Dandy Farms, both are trained by Jim Ellison, and both hit the wire in the identical winning time of 1:53.1.
Jason Ryan, another newcomer to the driver's colony at Running Aces in 2013, also won two races, including the evening's featured $7,000 conditioned trot. B C Lulu, the only optional $10,000 claimer in the field of solid, seasoned square-gaiters, used a strong :29.2 closing panel to edge Abes Little Blacky (Ridge Warren) and Franky Provolone (Steve Wiseman) in 1:56.2. The winner is a five-year-old gelding owned by Jim Ruhl and trained by Paul Ruhl.
Ryan's other score came behind Ideal Odds in the second leg of the Future Stars late-closer for green pacing fillies and mares. Ryan also trains Ideal Odds, owned by Michael Timpano, who stamped herself as a likely favourite when the championship leg of the series is staged next Wednesday.
(Running Aces)