The Thursday evening (August 12) harness racing program at Running Aces offered several feature events, including the $18,400 Minnesota-sired sophomore pace, with a full field of nine lining up behind the gate. SD Watch Me Now (Brian Detgen) was sent off as the odds-on favourite (4-5) from post nine, and Maze (Rick Magee) was the clear second choice on the board (2-1) from post eight.
It was that pair that were fastest off the car and battled for the early lead, with SD Watch Me Now clearing the lead just at the quarter-mile post after a quick :27.3 opening panel. Once on the lead, Detgen was able to slow down the tempo dramatically to get a :30.2 second-quarter breather while Twisted Bliss (Brandon Jenson) followed the favourites from third, and Brooklyn Windup (Brady Jenson) got rolling on the outside. Rounding the far turn SD Watch Me Now saw pressure from Brooklyn Wind Up as Doubleontherocks (Luke Plano) and Shes A Showstopper (Jacob Cutting) advanced with the cover.
As they turned in for home SD Watch Me Now still looked strong on the lead, but Maze was full of pace in the pocket and was able to shake free and come after the leader. They battled to the wire, with Maze ($6.40) getting up by three parts of a length in 1:56.1 for a new career mark. Shes A Show Stopper rallied past Doubleontherocks for third money. The winner is a filly by Malak Uswaad N who now shows four wins in fourteen starts this season for owner/breeder Bernard Nanke. The winning trainer is Alexia Kehl.
The $13,800 Mares Open Handicap pace went to Hottieonthehorizon ($4.80) who dominated in gate-to-wire fashion for her sixth win of the year. Driver Luke Plano blasted off the gate to an immediate lead with the five year old daughter of Vertical Horizon and they were never in doubt throughout the 1:53.4 mile. Oneida Blue Chip (Mooney Svendsen) was second best and Anna B (Brady Jenson) rallied for third. The winner is owned by Leslie Godlien and Rick Lancaster and is trained by Nick Roland.
The $10,781 Minnesota-sired freshman ‘A’ pace went to Antetokounmpo ($8.00) in 1:57 for his second win in a row. Trainer/driver Rick Magee sent the gelded son of Easy Again right to the front of the field and they dominated throughout, posting a two-length tally over Lovin On You (Jacob Cutting) with Roscoe P Coletrain (Dean Magee) checking in third. The winner is owned by Mikaela Delgiudice.
Anotherblazinwoman (Rick Magee, $22.60) posted a sharp looking score in the $10,781 freshman filly pace with a big mid-race rally to the front, opening up just enough of a lead to hang on by a half-length at the wire over stablemate Park With Me Nancy (Nick Roland) in 1:58.2 for her first pari-mutuel win. Gold Star Snoball (Dean Magee) was home in third to complete the trifecta for sire Wind Me Up. The top two finishers are both owned by Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte and trained by Justin Anfinson.
Curvesreasyondaeyes (Dean Magee, $3.60) posted a nice looking tally by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:59.1 for his first career win in the $7,188 freshman ‘B’ split over Fiffer Feffer Fef (Jacob Cutting) and Time For T (Nick Roland). The winner is a gelded son of Easy Again trained by Ariel Alvarez for owner/breeder Kati Sokolowski.
Driver Rick Magee led the program with four driving wins, while Luke Plano posted a driving double.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday (August 15) with first post at 6:05 pm (CDT) and will feature a carryover of $18,471.55 in the 20 cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager.
(Running Aces)