Banker Volo went to the gate for just the third time in 2017 on the Saturday night at Running Aces, headlining the $10,000 Open Handicap, and he put together a dazzling track record performance.
Banker Volo lowered his own previous 1:55.2 track mark for older trotting stallions set last July and the overall track standard of 1:54.4 set by Celebrity Hercules in 2013 as he hi-stepped the Minnesota oval in a swift 1:54.3 this evening.
Starting from his assigned outside post in the talented six-pack, he bolted to the front of the field and from there, frankly the rest of the field could only watch him do his thing. Driver Luke Plano had him fired up for the quarter (:27.4) and was able to throttle the speed through the second panel (:57.1) before turning on the afterburners and posting 1:24.4 at three-quarters, then coasting home to easily post the new track mark.
Banker Volo paid just $2.80 as the public’s overwhelming choice no doubt based on his current form and his 23 lifetime wins and $295,933 career bankroll. He is sired by Yankee Glide, and is owned by Daniel Roland and trained by Jenni King.
Also on the program, an $8,000 Three-Year-Old Open Trot was contested, and Tap My Feet ($7.80) took the bow in the winner’s circle after posting his second win in a row, and lowering his mark by over four seconds to 2:00 in the process.
Tap My Feet is sired by Broadway Hall, and is owned by Mikaela Delgiudice.
Trainer/driver Rick Magee sent him quickly off the gate from post eight in the nine-horse affair and they secured the pocket position before sweeping to the lead just past the quarter pole. From there, Tap My Feet was never in doubt and is now a perfect two-for-two on the season.
The Charlie Hare Trotting Series also got underway on Saturday, with two divisions going to post in the first leg. In the first division, it was odds-on favourite Lettinthenightroll ($3) winning with Luke Plano aboard for Jenni King in an eye-opening 1:56.2, and then Americas Game ($10.20) topped the field in the second division with Dean Magee driving for trainer Rick Bertrand and owner Glen Wilson, posting a new lifetime record of 1:57.3.
The next card of live harness racing at Running Aces goes to post on Sunday, June 4 at 6 p.m. CT.
(With files from Running Aces)