Driver Dean Magee stole the show at Running Aces on Tuesday night (Aug. 16) with five driving wins on the 10-race program.
Magee posted his first win of the night with a dramatic comeback score aboard three-year-old pacing gelding Down It in race four.
After making a miscue just after the start, Down It ($10.40) was 16 lengths back at the quarter and more than 14 lengths behind at the half while trailing in ninth position. The son of Downbytheseaside was still seventh by more than 10 lengths around the far turn and near the top of the lane, but Magee guided him to the far outside and he got rolling late and charged by the field to get up by a head right on the wire in 1:57.3 for his second career win. The winner is owned by Rick and Mr. Caroll Huffman and Keith Wilson, and is trained by Justin Anfinson.
Magee added wins in race five (Northbrook Ron, $4.40), race seven (ELs Disco Johnny, $5), race eight (Watchmeneighneigh, $2.60) and capped off his big night in race 10 with his own trainee Just B Talking, who delivered as the 6-5 favourite from post eight with a 2-1/2-length tally in 1:54.1 for his fourth win in 10 starts this season.
Caliber ($2.80) was much the best again in the featured $16,500 Open Handicap Pace in 1:51, posting a gate-to-wire score by 1-1/4 lengths over A Major Omen (Tony Kerwood) with SB Bodacious (Rick Magee) checking in third. The impressive five-year-old son of Sweet Lou now has eight wins in 20 starts this year for owners Terrence Smith and Tony Beltrami, and trainer Maria Alvarez. Luke Plano was the winning pilot and he had three winners on the night.
In the $13,000 Open II Pace, Magee and ELs Disco Johnny held off all challengers to wire the field by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:52.3 over longshot Albergo Hanover (Chip Lackey) with race favourite Alilthundadownunda (Brian Detgen) checking in third. The win the sixth of the year in 26 starts for the four-year-old son of Always A Virgin, owned and trained by Gerald Longo, who had two wins on the card.
Iron Sharpens Iron (Plano, $2.40) made it five wins in a row in the $16,500 Minnesota-sired freshman male trot, going gate-to-wire from post eight in 2:00, with Whata Tettegouche (Dean Magee) getting home second and longshot BPs Lucky Star (Chad Svendsen) picking up the show spot. The winner is a son of Banker Volo and he has now won seven of eight career races for owner Jeralene Roland and trainer Dan Roland.
Al Mar Richs Jetta (Brandon Jenson, $5.20) posted a dominating 5-3/4 length score in a career-best 2:02 in the $16,500 Minnesota-sired freshman filly trot for her second career win. SV Lil Martina (Rick Magee) was second best and After Thought (James Gould) completed the trifecta. The winner is a daughter of Lear Jetta, owned by Larry Jenson and trained by Brady Jenson -- those connections teamed up for two wins on the program.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday (Aug. 18) and the nine-race program will feature a carryover of $11,541.76 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager. First post is set for 7 p.m. (CDT).
(With files from Running Aces)