‘Ace’ Return For Burning Blaze

Published: August 18, 2019 03:42 pm EDT

Minnesota’s 2018 Harness Horse of the Year was back in action on Saturday night (Aug. 17) at Running Aces.

Burning Blaze, who started from Post 7, headlined the field in the $16,000 Minnesota-sired three year old pace and took on a field of six rivals.

Driver Steve Wiseman sent the gelded son of Wind Me Up away quickly. The duo cleared to the front from a fast-starting Sweet Vivian (driven by Mooney Svendsen) with a moderate first quarter clocking of :28.1 while A Little Rusty (Dean Magee) settled away in third.

Wiseman orchestrated a well-rated mile for Burning Blaze, who carried the field through fractions of :57 and 1:26 with no pressure whatsoever. Burning Blaze had plenty in reserve for the stretch drive and peeled off a :27.2 final stanza to keep everybody chasing him home; including pocket-sitter Sweet Vivian, who was not able to make up ground on the leader, despite her own :27.2 final kick. A Little Rusty was able to hold down the show spot.

Burning Blaze ($5.60) has now registered three wins from eleven outings in 2019, with seasonal earnings of $31,970. His career numbers are impressive: 10 wins, three seconds and five thirds from 20 starts, with a bankroll of $85,220 for owners Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte and Edward Gutin. The winning trainer is Justin Anfinson.

Brady Jenson led all drivers on the program with two wins, including a ‘one-two’ sweep of Race 5, a $6,800 conditioned pace in which he drove his trainee, Selma O'Brien ($16.60), to her second consecutive score in a career-best 1:54.4 (his other trained entry, Nurse Nattie (Tim Maier), finished second). The Jenson-trained exacta paid a healthy $125.60 to lucky winners and loyal Jenson fans.

Live racing will returns to Running Aces on Sunday (Aug. 18) with local post time at 6:00 p.m.

(Running Aces)

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