Running Aces’ Tuesday night (June 26) feature was a $13,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace which boasted a strong field of eight distaffers.
Gold Star Mysti was the public’s overwhelming 1-5 choice after her dominating performance last week.
There was a mad scramble for the lead when the wings of the gate sprung. Delightfully Wild (driven by Lemoyne Svendsen) and Abbijade Hanover (Rick Magee) started the initial battle for the front, but Gold Star Mysti (James Yoder) and Kiss On The Lips (Nick Roland) both quickly chimed in from their outside starting spots, which resulted in a three-wide battle around the first turn (in the process, the opening quarter was clicked off in :27.1).
Gold Star Mysti surged between mares for the lead, yielded briefly to Kiss On The Lips, and then re-took the top spot just before the half-mile marker flashed up in :55.1. From there, Gold Star Mysti ($2.60) settled into the top spot and the outcome was not in doubt from there. She was in full command past the 1:24.2 three-quarters pole and ultimately drew away before posting a solid two-length score in 1:52.4. Delightfully Wild finished second, followed by Whatitdo BabyBoo (Steve Wiseman) and Kiss On The Lips.
Gold Star Mysti, a five-year-old mare by Mysticism, has now recorded three wins and a second-place finish from four starts this year. She is owned by Gold Star Farms and trained by James Yoder.
Drivers Nick Roland, Dean Magee, Steve Wiseman, and James Yoder all turned in driving doubles on the Tuesday program.
Nobody solved the Hi-5 wager in the final race, and there is now a $1,567 carryover for the Hi-5 on Saturday night (June 30), which is also T-Shirt giveaway Night at Running Aces. All patrons that purchase a live racing program on Saturday will receive a RA 10-year Anniversary commemorative T-shirt.
First post on Saturday will be 6:00 p.m. (CDT).
(With files from Running Aces)