On Sunday evening (July 14), Running Aces hosted a pair of $15,000 eliminations for the track’s Dan Patch Free For All Pace.
A total of 14 contenders were split into a pair of seven-horse eliminations to determine the finalists for next week's $50,000 final.
Nine Ways and driver Dean Magee posted the fastest mile ever at Running Aces (1:50.3) while Winning the Dan Patch FFA elimination.
Defending Dan Patch FFA champion Nine Ways (who was driven by Dean Magee) was a headliner in the second $15,000 elim, along with last year's runner-up and 2017 champion Firedrake (Nick Roland). The two horses were the two fastest off the gate, and it was Nine Ways that sprinted to the lead while Firedrake secured the pocket through the opening quarter (:26.4).
SF Donttellonme (Rick Magee) paced away in third and the rest of the field was in a line-up as Nine Ways maintained a solid tempo (:55 and 1:22.4). Bettors Promise launched a first-over bid near the half, and applied pressure to the leader down the backstretch and around the far turn. At that point, Ideal Ace (Steven White) and To The Limit (Steve Wiseman) were also in the outer flow. When all was said and done, nobody was able to get past Nine Ways, who paced home strongly through the lane with a :27.4 final panel. He held off Firedrake, who emerged from the pocket with pace. Nine Ways dug in for a one and a quarter-length tally in 1:50.3, which is the fastest mile in the history of Running Aces. SF Donttellonme held for third over Bettors Promise, while To The Limit won a big battle for the final qualifying spot.
Nine Ways ($2.40) is a five-year-old gelded son of Delmarvalous out of the Cams Card Shark mare Nine Of Hearts. The win was Nine Ways’ fifth consecutive victory. He is owned by Antonia Storer and trainer Tim Maier. The 23rd win of Nine Ways’ career pushed his overall bankroll to $244,906.
Urgointohearmeroar and driver Lemoyne Svendsen secured win No. 13 this season in his Dan Patch FFA elimination.
The first elim carried two of the most anticipated starters from the overall nomination field: Fox Valley Gemini (Steve Wiseman), the Hawthorne shipper who was looking to extend his six-race win streak, and Rockin Speed (Travis Seekman) who shipped in from Indiana where he just posted a 1:49.1 career mark.
Local speedster Urgointohearmeroar (Lemoyne Svendsen) was also in the first grouping, along with the lone mare in the 2019 Dan Patch field Juslikeaqueen (Dean Magee).
Rockin Speed blasted from the gate from Post 2 to take a firm early command, which forced Fox Valley Gemini to settle for the pocket from the rail. Urgointohearmeroar had floated away in third as the Rockin Speed completed the snappy :26.3 opening stanza.
Urgointohearmeroar got rolling on the outside near the half, and was first over with Juslikeaqueen in tow and Major Legacy (Nick Roland) third over. Urgointohearmeroar continued to pressure Rockin Speed through the middle panels (:55.3, 1:23.1), while keeping Fox Valley Gemini locked tight in the pocket.
A furious stretch battle ensued as the field turned for home. Urgointohearmeroar got the upper hand late for a three-quarter-length score over Rockin Speed in 1:51. Top Notch (Rick Magee) rallied from the back of the pack to secure third at 75-1, while Annihilator (Don Harmon) also closed well to pick up fourth at 72-1. Fox Valley Gemini completed the top five.
Urgointohearmeroar extended his win streak to five via the victory, and has now won 13 of his 15 starts this season. The four-year-old Mystery Chase gelding is owned and trained by Mark Anderson.
The $15,000 Open II Handicap Pace was won by Holdingallthecards ($4.80, Dean Magee) in 1:51.4 and the $15,000 Open Handicap Trot was captured by My Uncle Cuz ($20.60, Don Harmon) in 1:55.4.
Heavy rains moved in to the area after Race 10 and Race 11 went to post under ‘sloppy’ conditions. After a delay, and further bands of heavy rain, Race 12 was cancelled due to safety concerns.
Live Racing will return to Running Aces on Tuesday (July 16) with a big 12-dash program that will offer two carryovers: a 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot carryover ($5,310.11) and a 50-cent Hi-5 carryover ($1,655.11).
Post time on Tuesday will be at 7:00 p.m. (CDT).
(Running Aces)