The Sunday night card of harness racing at Running Aces featured the $11,000 Open Pace, and a talented field of six squared off in the top contest.
Jazzmanian Devil (Moonie Svendsen) was looking for his fourth straight open win. He got away from the gate third and made a first-over bid past the three-quarter pole, and had a head-of-the-stretch lead before being out-paced late by closers Buddys Hope (Luke Plano) and Gotta Dream Big (Nick Roland). Buddys Hope was fastest to the wire, taking the winner’s prize in the 1:53.2 mile.
Gotta Dream Big was a half a length back in second, and Jazzmanian Devil held third.
Buddys Hope is owned by B.C.'s Jerome Bouvier and trained by Sean Lancaster. It was his 20th lifetime victory, and the win tonight pushed his career purse tally to $121,668. He paid $20.80 at the windows.
The amazingly sharp three-year-old gelding Freedom Reigns (Steve Wiseman) extended his winning streak to five tonight, pacing in 1:54.4. Wiseman sent his charge quickly from the gate from Post 7 and found early opposition from Fox Valleyrichrokr (Rick Magee), who also left sharply from the outside. Freedom Reigns cleared to the lead past the three-eighths pole after a contested :28 quarter and he then led the rest of the way posting :57.1 and 1:25.4 fractions.
Whatchastarinat (Gerald Longo) came charging from off the pace but was unable to get past the winner. Holla At Ur Boy (Dean Magee) was third.The Molgaard-Jensen-owned and -trained Freedom Reigns paid $2.80 as the hot favourite.
Driver Luke Plano picked up a hat trick for the second consecutive program as he also scored with Chew Tobacco Spit ($13.80) in 1:59.2 for trainer Robert Lems, and he piloted his own trainee Barbosa ($7.80) to victory in 1:56.1. Drivers Nick Roland and Steve Wiseman both posted driving doubles on the card as well.
The next card of live harness racing at Running Aces Casino & Racetrack will go to post on Tuesday night, July 5 at 7:00 pm CDT.
(with files from Running Aces)