The Sunday afternoon (July 26) harness racing program at Running Aces featured three divisions of trotting three-year-olds, with a total purse of $23,000.
The $11,500 "A" division had a field of eight lining up behind the gate and the talk of the tote-board was Teachmehowtotory at 1-2 in the wagering from post 4 with driver Nick Roland in the bike, and fresh off a last out win at the same level.
Trotterlicious fired fastest off the gate from post 2 and SB Madame Secretary also left sharply from the outside eight post to set up a battle on the front that lasted from just past the three-eighths marker to the far turn, where SB Madame Secretary finally cleared the lead. They set torrid fractions of :28.3, :56.3 and 1:26.3 while Teachmehowtotory benefitted from the intense battle from the garden seat in third, then angled out of the pocket at just the right moment to get rolling as they rounded for home.
Teachmehowtotory ($3.00) was full steam ahead as they straightened away and easily drew away from the competition to score a three-and-a-quarter length tally in a sharp mile of 1:57 for a new career mark, while Passion In Paris closed late to pick up the pieces for second just ahead of SD Eliminator in a tight place photo.
Teachmehowtotory now has three wins on the season and six tallies overall for owners Set The Pace Racing LLC and trainer Jessica Johnson. The sharp Braggart filly has now bankrolled $57,497 to date. The 1:57 clocking was just one-fifth of a second off of the track record for three-year-old trotting fillies.
The $6,900 "B" division went to Hearduwhispermynam (Brian Detgen, $3.00) also delivering as the 1-2 favourite as part of the Jenni King owned entry. Hearduwhispermynam took control just past the quarter and was never in doubt with a solid one-and-three-quarter length tally in 1:57.4 for a lifetime mark.
The $4,600 "C" division went to Al Mar Why Not (Rick Magee, $3.20) who was also the public choice and scored a convincing gate-to-wire victory by three lengths in 2:00.1 for a career mark and first pari-mutuel win. Bryce Jenson is the winning owner and the winning trainer is Brandon Jenson.
Driver Braxten Boyd led the Sunday program with three winners on the day, including a sharp 1:52.2 score with Bestinthebusiness ($3.60) in a $6,700 conditioned pace for owner Brett Boyd Racing and trainer Gene Miller.
Driver Nick Roland added two wins on Sunday, while trainer Jessica Johnson also picked up two wins.
A track-record $2 exacta payout was registered on Sunday when Queen of Marcs (Darrel Wright, 23-1) combined with Pathologist (Michael Magee, 50-1) in the fifth race of the day to return a whopping $1,892.60; the biggest exacta return ever at Running Aces.
Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday (July 28) with first post at 1:00 p.m. (CDT) and will feature a Carryover in the 20 cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager of $15,760.48.
(Running Aces)