Minnesota-sired two-year-old pacers highlighted the Tuesday evening (August 16) program of harness racing Running Aces, with $10,000 on the line in each division.
In the split for colts and geldings, the big favourite, Deweydiddonegood (who was driven by Dean Magee), did not prevail, as he finished third despite a nice effort on the front end. Steves Hot Rod (Rick Magee) sat the pocket and came home second in the 2:01 mile, beaten only a half-length. Wonder Bull (Nick Roland) was the one that charged fastest to the wire – he had advanced up the inside in the stretch, but would later be placed eighth for violating the expanded homestretch rules since he advanced well inside of the final pylon before the beginning of the expanded stretch. Steves Hot Rod was placed as the winner, Deweydiddonegood was placed second, and Zachariahs Honor (Luke Plano) was placed third. Steves Hot Rod now sports three lifetime wins from seven starts for owner Kati Sokolowski and trainer David Flynn.
There would be no upsets in the fillies’ division, as the overwhelming choice, Whatitdobabyboo (Rick Magee), delivered another impressive victory, in her now-signature style. She sat back quietly in the early stages before launching a deliberate rally on the outside and pouncing in the homestretch to draw away from her rivals in 2:02. She posted a three and a quarter-length tally, which was her fourth in a row and fifth in her last six starts for owners Van Oterloo Stables and trainer David Flynn. She paid $2.40 to her many backers and raced over a ‘sloppy’ track.
The track condition went from ‘fast’ in Races 1-3 to ‘sloppy’ at the start of Race 4 after heavy rains pelted the area for about 45 minutes.
Driver Rick Magee had a huge night, as he posted five wins on the program (he is the first driver to record that feat at the track this season). His five-bagger included wins with pacers Placen First ($26.80) in 1:58 in Race 4, the aforementioned tally aboard Steves Hot Rod ($13.40) in Race 6, the trotter Switcheroo ($53.00) in Race 8 in 2:00.3, the filly Whatitdobabyboo in Race 9, and the gelding pacer Red Star Tyson ($6.40) in Race 10 (1:58.4).
Running Aces is now racing four nights a week, with live racing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays going to post at 7:00 p.m. (CDT), and weekend racing starts at 6:00 p.m. (CDT) on both Saturdays and Sundays.
(Running Aces)