The Sunday night, July 21 program at Running Aces featured two $27,397 eliminations for the 2024 Dan Patch Free-For-All Pace, which produced very exciting races and resulted in a brand new overall track record.
Tuggin On My Heart and Aces newcomer Muskateer Hanover were both heavily backed at the windows at 6-5, with the latter going off as the slight favourite when the bell rang for the second elimination. They were the fastest pair off the gate with Tuggin On My Heart and Jacob Cutting asserting themselves from post five to take early control while Brady Jenson and Muskateer Hanover secured the pocket and No Lou Zing (Mooney Svendsen) landed in third through an opening panel in :26.4.
Tuggin On My Heart was a comfortable leader through the middle fractions of :55 and 1:22.1 and had the field stacked up on the far turn as No Lou Zing offered a first-over attack and Crooked Smile (Todd Warren) followed his cover.
In the homestretch, Tuggin On My Heart continued to pace strong, but Muskateer Hanover was loaded in the pocket and when Jenson tipped him out into the center of the track, he posted a tremendous surge to take the lead and draw clear for a 1-1/4 length victory, stopping the timer in 1:49.1 to become the fastest horse ever at Running Aces. Crooked Smile rallied past No Lou Zing late to pick up third money.
Trained by Jenson, the winner is a four-year-old gelding by Sweet Lou and out of the Bettors Delight mare, Marinade Hanover. He was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms and is owned by Mulligan Stables and Calcutta Stable.
The track record mile was also a new career mark for Muskateer Hanover ($4.60), who now has 12 career wins and earnings topping the $300,000 mark.
The previous track mark of 1:49.2 was recorded in 2023 by both American Dreamer and Crooked Smile.
Macs Marvel and Luke Plano pulled off a 7-1 upset in the first elimination heat, posting an impressive first-over trip to track down pacesetter and race favourite Hezzz A Wise Sky in a 1:50.4 clocking.
Hezzz A Wise Sky (Dean Magee) battled with PD The Big Easy (James Kennedy) early before taking control near the fast :26.2 quarter-mile checkpoint and was well settled on the lead as they ripped off a half in a scorching :54.1 while PD The Big Easy rode in the pocket.
Macs Marvel launched his attack as they headed down the backside and methodically marched up alongside the leaders as they rounded the far turn and recorded 1:22.4 for three panels.
Hezzz A Wise Sky braced for the challenge in the lane and battled gamely, but Macs Marvel got the upper hand late and edged past to capture victory by a half-length. PD The Big Easy held third and Ynotthishos (Nick Roland) was home in fourth.
Macs Marvel ($16.80) is a five-year-old son of Captaintreacherous, owned by Jose Cervantes and Terrence Smith and trained by Williams Hernandez. He now has 17 career wins and earnings of more than $240,000.
Topville Rocknluck, who was the fastest fifth-place finisher (1:51.2) will join the top four finishers from each elimination to comprise the field for the $50,000 USD Dan Patch FFA final next Sunday, July 28.
Al Mar Spicey Talk and Mooney Svendsen pulled off one of the biggest upset wins of the Aces season with a three-length tally in the $21,233 Open Handicap Trot.
Travelling in fifth early from post three, Svendsen waited patiently while Susies Sister (James Lackey), heavy favourite Domovoy (Jacob Cutting) and Winnerup (Nick Roland) battled for the top through the first three-quarters of a mile. After following cover behind Winnerup, Al Mar Spicey Talk tipped out near the top of the stretch and quickly surged to the lead and drew clear in the lane to post a career-best win in 1:55.1. Toccoa Fall (Williams Hernandez) finished second and Yo Lucky Moni (Luke Plano) was third.
The winner is a seven-year-old son of Money Talks, owned by Joshua Horvat and is trained by Katie Horvat. Al Mar Spicey Talk ($67.20) now has 13 career wins with earnings of more than $145,000.
Brady Jenson led the Sunday program with four driving wins and three training wins while Elson Miller posted a driving and training double.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday, July 23 for a special ‘Christmas in July’ night at the races, which will benefit Toys For Joy. First post is set for 6 p.m. (CDT).
Running Aces management, in partnership with the USTA's Strategic Wagering Program, have issued an instant guarantee of $10,000 for Tuesday night's early Pick-4 wager, which has a carryover of $3,070 and starts in Race 1. The late Pick-4 wager, which starts in Race 5, also has a guarantee of $3,000.
(Running Aces)