Top pacers were in the spotlight at Running Aces on Tuesday (July 12) and Saddle Up posted the sharpest performance of the night to capture the $16,500 Open Handicap with a commanding 4-1/4 length tally in 1:52.1 over a track rated ‘sloppy’.
The impressive four-year-old son of JK Endofanera did not seem phased by the soggy conditions and promptly responded to driver Dean Magee’s request for early speed to rally to the front of the field from post six as SB Bodacious (Rick Magee) was away quickly from post four and yielded for the pocket trip and Zanetti (Nick Roland) settled away in third.
The early pace (:27.4, :56.3) was honest and Saddle Up was quite comfortable on the lead. Race favourite Caliber (Luke Plano), who got away last in the seven-horse contest, was first to launch a bid and came first-up as they rolled past the half-mile marker.
Caliber was only able to get to within a length of the leader as they headed into the far turn and Numbered Account (Brady Jenson) was following the cover in fourth. Saddle Up responded to post a third panel in :27.4 to maintain a solid advantage as they rounded for home.
In the lane, Saddle Up began to draw away from his rivals as SB Bodacious and Caliber battled for the second spot with the former prevailing for the runner-up spoils.
Saddle Up ($11.80) is owned by Jeff Fought Racing and is trained by Justin Anfinson. He has now won four of his five local outings.
Alilthundadownunda (Roland, $3.40) delivered as the 3-5 favourite in the $13,000 Open II Pace for his seventh win of the season.
Roland activated the four-year-old son of Malak Uswaad N near the three-eighths mark and he took the lead before the half-mile. Watchmeneighneigh (Gerald Longo) posted a strong first-over challenge to the leader and those two battled for the final three-eighths of a mile while Shark Play (Plano) travelled in third. Alilthundadownunda dug in gamely to defeat Watchmeneighneigh by three-quarters of a length in 1:54, with Shark Play holding for third money.
The winner is owned by Set The Pace Racing and is also trained by Roland.
Teeter Trotter ($16) went gate-to-wire to capture the $18,000 Minnesota-sired freshman trot in 2:01 for his first lifetime win, and kicked off a four-win night for driver Nick Roland.
Teeter Trotter led every step of the way and fought gamely to the wire to hold on by a nose over stablemate and betting favourite Iron Sharpens Iron (Plano) while Freeman Freddy (Brandon Jenson) was well back in third. The top three finishers are all sons of Banker Volo.
The winner is owned by Lucas and Jeralene Roland and trained by Dan Roland.
With the driving grand slam by Roland, he is once again tied at the top of the dash-winner standings with Plano.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday (July 14) with a 10-race program that will feature a carryover of $6,525.96 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager, and a guaranteed pool of $3,000 in the 50-cent Late Pick-4 wager. First post is set for 7 p.m. (CDT).
(Running Aces)