Thursday night (July 24) was ladies night at Running Aces with distaffers in the spotlight as well as four divisions of sophomore Minnesota-sired pacers.
Mother Mary (Rockin Image,) turned in an impressive effort in the $20,205 distaff Open Handicap for her fourth win of the season and her 15th career win.
Driver Rick Magee floated away in fourth early from post five with Mother Mary as Twist Little Girl N (Mooney Svendsen) and Kele Kele (Brady Jenson) battled for the top and set quick opening fractions of :27.1 and :55.4. Magee activated Mother Mary during the second panel and made a swift move to the front while longshot Premier Desirey (Jessie Pacheco) came first-up and Scorecard Dandy (Dean Magee) also got rolling on the outside.
Mother Mary had the field stacked up behind her as she posted the three-quarters in 1:24 and she continued to pace strong in the lane. Twist Little Girl N had gotten shuffled back but emerged in deep stretch with a big rally and Ideal Skies (Nick Roland) came flying from last on the far outside but Mother Mary was able to hold off all challengers for a half-length tally in 1:53.
Mother Mary ($6.40) is trained by Mikaela Del Giudice for owner Joe Casagranda.
Miss May Bell (Brady Jenson, $3.80) made it three wins in a row in the $20,548 fillies 'A' pace with a new career mark of 1:54.4 with stablemate Mele Kalikimaka home second and SB Kara Mia finishing third.
The top two finishers are owned by Merlin Van Oterloo and trained by Brett Ballinger.
Wind Me Up Blue (Scott Cisco, $7.80) rallied strongly in the lane to win and posted a new career mark in 1:54.4 in the $20,548 colts 'A' division, besting Swinging On By and Blazin For Life.
The winner is owned by trainer Rick Cisco, in partnership with Tamara Wainscott.
The Minnesota Kid (Luke Plano $3.60) captured the $13,699 colts 'B' split by going gate-to-wire in 1:55.4 and Shes A Brujaja (Svendsen, $133) posted her first career win with a huge upset in the $13,699 fillies 'B' division in 1:57.2.
Drivers Mooney Svendsen, Brady Jenson and Rick Magee all posted doubles on the program.
Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday night (July 27) for a 12-race program which features the $40,000 USD Dan Patch FFA Pace. First post is set for 6 p.m. (CDT).
(Running Aces)