Running Aces’ program of racing on Saturday (July 13) featured a pair of divisions of Minnesota-sired three-year-old pacers.
The $13,800 ‘A’ division saw a talented field of six that featured three fillies and three geldings battle. The division was headlined by favourites SB Bodacious (driven by Rick Magee), Stay Humble N Kind (Gerald Longo), and Windmeupnwatchmego (Dean Magee).
As the gate sped away from the field, Windmeupnwatchmego was sent right to the lead from her outside six post, and quickly established firm command of affairs. The talented daughter of Wind Me Up posted a quick opener of :27.4, before stealing a 30-second breather in the second panel. Dean Magee got her fired back up for the final half and peeled off a 28.1 third panel to maintain a firm hold on things. She paced home in an eye-catching :27.3 to post a career-best mile of 1:53.3. She held off a late challenge from race favourite SB Bodacious. Burning Blaze (Steve Wiseman) finished third.
Windmeupnwatchmego
Windmeupnwatchmego ($7.60) has now recorded four wins from five starts this year, and has now notched ten career victories from just thirteen starts. The Gordon Graham trainee has now banked $77,550 in earnings and is owned by Richard Davelaar.
The $9,200 ‘B’ split was won by Trinitysfancyfilly ($4.80, Brain Detgen), who picked up her fourth win of the season in what was her tenth seasonal start. She got away third, swept to the lead near the three-eighths pole and was never in doubt from there. Trinitysfancyfilly held off a host of late chargers at the wire and posted a half-length score in 1:56.2 for a new career mark. Tiyaga (Steve Wiseman) picked up second, while Sweet Vivian (Mooney Svendsen) checked in third. The winner is owned by Sarah Hallberg alongside co-owning trainer Brian Detgen.
Saturday was also Roger Huston Night at the track and event was a huge success. The Hall of Fame announcer and broadcaster met fans, signed autographs and books, toured the facility and called some Minnesota harness action. A large and enthusiastic Saturday night crowd was treated to Huston’s signature energetic and colourful calls, as he made the Running Aces stop his 145th career racetrack to announce at, and twentieth state in which to do so. Huston has now called 179,600 races over a tremendous 60-year career and is still going strong. He is now headed back home to gear up for the 2019 Adios pace at his home track (the Meadows) before heading to Ireland in August to call races at the Vincent Delaney Memorial at Portmarnock Raceway near Dublin.
Live racing will return to Running Aces on Sunday (July 14) with first post at 6:00 p.m. (CDT). The program will feature two $15,000 elimination races for Running Aces’ $50,000 Dan Patch Free For All.
(With files from Running Aces)