Driver John DeLong and Armbro David captured the $8,000 Open Pace Tuesday, July 30 at Running Aces.
The victor utilized a moderate pacesetting 58-second opening half-mile to maximum advantage, as Armbro David went on to sprint home in :54.3 seconds to hold off Restless Yankee (driven by Nick Roland) and Cowboy Hanover (Lemoyne Svendsen).
It was the third Minnesota victory in eight starts for Armbro David, owned by Matthew Percy and trained by Sherman.
In the very next race, Black Lace extended her win streak to four for DeLong, despite a move up from the $3,500 to $4,500 claiming ranks. Owned by Michael Sloan, the sleek mare closed from fifth at the halfway point to edge Frankly Scarlett (Steve Wiseman) by a neck. Allusive Annie (Jason Ryan) checked in third beaten just one length.
DeLong also captured a $7,000 conditioned pace with Mayfield Hanover, who got up in the final strides to edge Ding Dong Boy (Ryan Lems) and Marced Card (Nick Roland) in 1:53.3. Jessica Roegner owns the winning son of Dragon Again who won for the second time in nine tries at Running Aces.
Shes A Foxie Lady provided DeLong’s other triumph on the card when she bested a full field of Minnesota-sired two-year-old trotters in 2:02.2. Owned by John’s father, Jesse DeLong, the filly bested Chewy Dunkerton (Wiseman), who is owned by John’s brother Benjamin DeLong, and Abras Starlight (Roland) in the lucrative $13,500 race.
Racing resumes at Running Aces on Wednesday night with a 7:00 p.m. (CST) first post.
(With files from Running Aces)