The Sunday night, July 13 harness racing program at Running Aces featured top trotters in the spotlight, including two divisions of Minnesota-sired sophomores going for $23,973 in each split.
Peanutbutterfalcon ($2.20) was the 1-10 favourite in the male division and he did not disappoint his backers, delivering his third straight win and his fifth triumph in six seasonal outings.
Driver Rick Magee and Peanutbutterfalcon were intent on getting to the front of the contest early and they had to work a bit to make the top but they prevailed in an early tussle with Braggen Bliss (Nick Roland) after a quick :28.1 opening stanza while Tutti Frutti Rudy (Luke Plano) set up shop in third.
Once on the lead, Magee was able to settle his charge into a nice rhythm and they stole a huge breather of :31.3 in the second panel and 1:02.1 in the middle half.
Peanutbutterfalcon was in complete control as they swung for home while Tutti Frutti Rudy launched a nice rally from third. However, Peanutbutterfalcon was able to get home safe to win by a half-length over Tutti Frutti Rudy with Braggen Bliss third best in the 1:59.3 mile.
The Quality Kemp-Lindys On Fire gelding is owned by his breeder, Jeri Roland, and is trained by Dan Roland. Last year's Minnesota divisional stakes champion, Peanutbutterfalcon now has 12 career wins from 18 starts with total earnings of $183,134.
Its Gonna Be Mae ($8.20) posted her first career pari-mutuel win in the filly division, rallying from fifth at the half-mile to steadily gain on the leaders and eventually surge at the line to win by a head over SHS Southern Pride (Rick Magee) with Flora Cash (Brandon Jenson) a close third in thre 1:59.4 mile. Sean Smithpeters was the winning driver for Its Gonna Be Mae, a homebred daughter of Lear Jetta and Sweet Elly Mae, trained and owned by Alexia Kehl.
Escaper ($4) delivered another impressive gate-to-wire performance to capture his fourth local win from seven local starts in the $20,205 Open Handicap Trot with Billy Mann in the bike. There were never any anxious moments for the four-year-old Muscle Hill Top Expectations gelding, who held gamely against a solid late rally from All Champy (Mooney Svendsen) to prevail by a half-length in a seasonal best 1:55.2. The winner is trained by Maria Alvarez and owned by Terrence Smith.
Brady Jenson led the Sunday program with four driving wins and a training double while Luke Plano posted both a driving and training double and Dean Magee also scored a driving double.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday, July 15 for a nine-race program with first post at 7 p.m. (CDT).
(With files from Running Aces)