The Tuesday night, July 29 harness racing program at Running Aces featured multiple divisions of Minnesota-sired freshman trotters and pacers, but Al Mar Flash Over ($2.10) stole the show with another flawless performance in the $23,288 filly trot, going gate-to-wire from post seven to remain perfect in five career starts.
Trainer/driver Nick Roland had no trouble getting to the front with the talented daughter of Southwind Flash-Vestal Hanover and they were never less than two lengths in front of their rivals throughout, checking home four lengths ahead of SV Shining Star (Rick Magee) with Anitras Dance (Scott Cisco) home in third in the 2:01 mile, which was a career-best effort for the winner. Al Mar Flash Over is owned by Thomas and Kathy Shipley and Royal Roland.
Starstruck Fool ($3.40), driven by Scott Cisco, added another sharp win to her resume to make it four in a row in the $20,548 filly ‘A’ pace with a 1-3/4-length score in 1:59.3 over Baby Im Hot (Elson Miller) and Sparklingchardonnay (Nick Roland). The daughter of Karpathian Kid-Lovin A Fool is now four-for-five for trainer Dan Roland and owners Jeri & Briar Roland.
Set Free, with driver Rick Magee, was ultra-game again in the $20,548 colt & gelding ‘A’ pace, leading from start to finish in a 3-3/4-length romp over Wild About Me (Roland) and Whatevrittakes Two (Plano) in 1:55.1 for his fourth career win in six starts. Trained by Justin Anfinson, the Three Of Clubs-Hostess Lisa gelding races for owners Jay De Long, Ken Stauffer and Stephanie Anfinson. This event was run as an early non-betting affair.
HM Magical Money ($4) made the most of his first Aces start with a dominant score in 2:05.1 for a new career mark in the $23,288 colt & gelding trot. Trained and driven by Nick Roland, the Tom Ridge-Bit A Magic gelding got home 2-1/4 lengths better than SV Rough And Tough (Chad Svendsen) and they were both well clear of Wilmar Bucky (William Mann) in third. The winner is also owned by Thomas & Kathy Shipley and Royal Roland.
Nick Roland led the program with a driving and training triple while Elson Miller also posted a training triple and driver Josiah Miller and trainer Edwin Quevedo each posted doubles.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday, July 31, with a 12-race program that will include a carryover of $6,323.91 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager, which will get underway in race eight.
(With files from Running Aces)