The Sunday, July 19 harness racing program at Running Aces featured the $28,169 Dan Patch Preview Pace along with the $22,535 Open Handicap Trot.
Muskateer Hanover, who was the 2024 Dan Patch champion at Running Aces and is the current all-age track record holder at the Minnesota oval, made his local return in the Dan Patch preview and was sent off as the 4-5 public choice from post two, while one of the local favourites, Cash Money Twenty, also had plenty of support at 9-5, and Alta Revelry N was also respected as the 5-2 third choice on the board.
Alta Revelry N (Luke Plano) blasted off the gate from post four to grab an early lead and Muskateer Hanover (Brady Jenson) also left alertly to briefly drop in the pocket while Cash Money Twenty secured the third position for driver Casey Leonard as they headed to the quarter.
Jenson and Muskateer Hanover were not content with the pocket and surged to the lead just before the :27.1 opening quarter, relegating Alta Revelry back to second as they throttled the speed down for a 29-second breather during the second stanza.
Muskateer Hanover led comfortably down the backstretch while reeling off a third split of :27.2 and Leonard launched Cash Money Twenty into action near the three-quarter pole with Hazardous (Rick Magee) tipping from fourth for the cover.
As they swung into the lane, Cash Money Twenty was looming large on the outside and in mid-stretch he posted a strong surge to forge past Muskateer Hanover and draw clear for a one-length score while Alta Revelry N rallied inside late to grab the place spot and Muskateer Hanover was beaten two lengths in third in the 1:50.2 mile.
Cash Money Twenty, who paid $5.80 to win, paced his final quarter in :26.1 and his final half-mile in :53.3 for his sixth win of the year in eight starts and his 26th career tally. The talented four-year-old son of Stevensville-Hostess Lisa has now earned $525,217.
Brett Ballinger trains the winner for owner Heart & Soul Racing of Des Moines, Iowa.
BPs Lucky Star shined bright in the Open Handicap Trot with a 10-1 upset for his second win of the season in nine starts.
Driver Lemoyne Svendsen guided BPs Lucky Star away in fourth and sat patiently through the early action, then activated him into a second-over position as the field rounded the far turn. The six-year-old For You Almostfree-L H Fillybuster gelding tipped off the cover as they swung for home and charged through the lane with authority to sweep past the leaders and ultimately hold firm against the late-closing Fifty Rivers (Casey Leonard) by a half-length in 1:55. Escaper (Rick Magee) finished one length behind in third as the 2-1 favourite.
The winner is owned by trainer Rick Huffman in partnership with Brenda Lovetinsky of West Branch, Iowa. The win mutuel was $23.
Driver Casey Leonard led the program with three wins while Mooney Svendsen and Brady Jenson both had doubles.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday, July 21 for a special "Christmas at the Races" program that will benefit Toys 4 Joy of Minnesota. There will be $1 USD hot dogs, $2 USD beers and "Free Bet Frenzy" drawings offered during the night. First post is set for 7 p.m. (CDT).
(With files from Running Aces)