The $9,500 Open Trot produced a new winner for the fourth consecutive week on Wednesday night at Running Aces when Keystone Swagger (driven by John DeLong) benefitted from a perfect pocket trip to win in 1:55.4, equalling the track record for older horses.
The record the son of Angus Hall tied was less than two hours old, as Salutation Hanover (Nick Roland) had also stopped the teletimer in 1:55.4 in a $4,500 conditioned trot earlier in the program.
Keystone Swagger, by Ontario-based stallion Angus Hall, is owned by Dandy Farms and is trained in Minnesota by Jim Ellison. It was just his eighth career triumph, but did increase his lifetime earnings to $212,000. Silence Son (Craig Banks) was a game second after cutting all the fractions and favoured Shelby County (Moonie Svendsen) just nipped B C Lulu (Jason Ryan) for third.
With the 2013 summer meet just slightly more than half over, the driver and trainer standings at Running Aces are extremely tight and no one has emerged as a clear-cut favourite in either race. On the drivers side, Jason Ryan and Rick Magee are deadlocked at the top with 30 victories each after 28 nights of racing. Luke Plano has 29, Nick Roland 28, Steve Wiseman 25 and John DeLong 24.
Jason Ryan had a big week to move to the top of the conditioner standings with 16 trips to the winner's circle from his stable. Close on his heels are David Flinn and Tim Brown with 15 each, then Don Sherman, Tim Maier and Nick Roland all with 14.
Racing resumes Saturday and Sunday nights this weekend with a 50-cent Pick Six carryover of $743.65. First-race post time on Saturday is 7:00 p.m. (CDT).
(Running Aces)