The featured event on the Tuesday evening (July 20) card at Running Aces was the $12,000 Open Handicap Pace, which drew a full field of nine talented contenders.
The slight favourite at post time was Major Pocket A while Castle Flight was a close second choice in the wagering.
Elusive Image was fastest from the gate from post 4 to take command of the field, with Castle Flight getting away sharply from post 7 to secure the pocket and Stuckey Dote pacing away in third from the inside post.
The field remained in straight alignment through the solid early fractions of :27.2 and :55.3 before Major Pocket started the outer flow from sixth, with Parklane Jet and Whatchyastarinat joining the charge. The outer tier failed to make much of an impression on the top three horses. And as they rounded for home, it was a clear battle between that trio, with Castle Flight emerging from the pocket and Stuckey Dote charging three-wide. Elusive Image dug down deep but was ultimately unable to stave the surge from Castle Flight who got a head up at the wire in 1:53 while Stuckey Dote was just three-quarter lengths back in third.
The winner is a nine-year-old gelded son of Panspacificflight who now shows 35 wins and earnings of $361,696. He is owned by Bill Dessert and trained by Nick Roland. Luke Plano drove the $7.60 winner.
Six-year-old Minnesota-sired pacer Ridonkuloso (Luke Plano, $8.60) scored a lifetime best 1:53.3 win in a $5,200 conditioned event for his 17th win. The son of Voracious Hanover has won five races this season for owners Dave Haness and Nikki Hudson, Plano is also the winning conditioner.
The Quentin Schneider stable came extremely close to a double-win score in the second race on the night, a $4,800 conditioned pace, when his two trainees (Major Mac and Ivar) dominated the race and battled tooth and nail to the finish wire. After the dust cleared, the stewards were able to separate the pair by the slightest of margins, with Ivar ($21.20) getting the victory by a nose. The mile in 1:54.3 was a career-best effort for both pacers, and was the fifth tally for Ivar, a four-year-old stallion by JK Royal Flush who is owned by Mel Mullet. The winner was piloted by James Jungquist while Luke Plano steered Major Mac. The Schneider-trained exacta paid a healthy $127.80 as well.
Plano led the program for the second straight night, posting a driving Hat-Trick, while leading driver Nick Roland registered a double. Quentin Schneider posted a training double as well.
Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday (July 22) with first post at 6:05 p.m. (CDT) and will feature a carryover of $6,133.14 in the 20 cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager.
(Running Aces)