The Father’s Day (June 19) harness racing program at Running Aces was loaded with feature events, and headlined by two $17,500 elimination races for the Steve Wiseman Memorial Trot.
The first elimination split saw All American N ($5.80) with driver Luke Plano post a sharp gate-to wire tally by one length in 1:54.4 for his first win of the season, while Bringoverthemoney (Mooney Svendsen) was clearly second best throughout and Mind Yown Business (Brady Jenson) rallied from last to pick up third. Rush To The Bank (Tony Kerwood) also qualified for the final with a fourth-place finish while race favourite Mandeville (Nick Roland) was eliminated in fifth. The winner is an eight-year-old son of Muscle Hill who is owned and trained by Maria Alvarez.
The second elimination went to Susies Sister (Kerwood), who also wired the field, posting a three-quarter length tally in 1:54.3 to equal the track record for aged trotting mares in her first local outing of the season. This is now the fourth current Running Aces track record on the books for Susies Sister ($7.20). Pridecrest (Svendsen) charged home second after a pocket trip and Hearduwhispermynam (Plano) just edged out Bordogna (Rick Magee) for third money. Star Track Hanover (Dean Magee) checked in fifth and was the fastest fifth place finisher to secure the final spot for the $35,000 final next week. The winner is a five-year-old daughter of Claudius Augustus who is owned by Lynchris LLC and trained by Jenni King.
The $19,800 Minnesota-Sired ‘A’ sophomore trot went to Scroll On By (Kerwood) for her third win in five starts this year. The impressive Banker Volo filly got away third from post one and then swept to the lead near the three-eighths mark. Once on the lead, Scroll On By ($4) was always comfortable and she easily held off a prolonged challenge from runner-up CR Promise To You, who just nosed out Vickies Vacation for second. The winning margin was one length and the final time was 1:58.4. The winner is owned by Kennedy Roland and is trained by Dan Roland.
The $13,200 ‘B’ division went to Wilamar Spark (Dean Magee, $20.60), who rallied from fifth and was full of trot in the homestretch to sweep by her rivals and register her first lifetime win by one length over heavy favourite Shadowfax (Roland) in 2:01.1 while front-runner Calico Creek (Rick Magee) checked in third. The winner is a daughter of Southwind Flash, owned by Jeanne Marquis and trained by Justin Anfinson.
The $13,000 Open II Handicap Trot went to Silverhill Volo, who delivered as the 4-5 favourite from post seven. The 11-year-old Muscle Hill gelding worked hard to get the lead, but once on top, he was never in doubt in the 1:56.2 mile, while early leader SD Eliminator (Brian Detgen) was clearly second best and Daytona Dreamin (Svendesn) rallied from sixth to pick up the show dough. The winner is owned, trained and driven by James Lackey.
Dean Magee led the Sunday program with three driving victories and is now just four away from 5,000 career wins.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday (June 21) with first post at 7 p.m. (CDT) and the card will feature a carryover of $1,763.24 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager and a guaranteed pool of $5,000 in the 50-cent Late Pick-4.
(With files from Running Aces)