Escaper Deemed Wiseman Winner At Running Aces

Escaper winning at Running Aces
Published: August 18, 2025 09:35 am EDT

With leader All Champy on the gallop crossing the wire, Escaper was deemed the winner in the $41,667 Steve Wiseman Memorial Trot at Running Aces on Sunday, Aug. 17.

The annual August marquee event went to post with a field of six talented square-gaiters, with DP Freedoms Chrome (James Gould) sent off as the 3-5 favourite and All Champy (Mooney Svendsen) sent off as the 9-5 second choice.

DP Freedoms Chrome had some trouble behind the gate and got away fourth from post one while All Champy battled early with Bringoverthemoney (Dean Magee) to take the top and post the opening fraction in :27.3 while Bringoverthemoney yielded for the pocket position and Escaper (Billy Mann) tucked in third.

DP Freedoms Chrome tried a first-over bid down the backside but never looked comfortable and failed to make any impression on the leaders.

All Champy set all of the fractions and led comfortably with a two-length cushion while posting solid middle fractions of :56.1 and 1:24.3. 

Into the lane, All Champy was still going strong while Escaper emerged from third to surge past Bringoverthemoney and they were both still chasing All Champy. 

Inside the final sixteenth of a mile, All Champy began to get rough gaited and then went into a full gallop through the finish line. After a lengthy review by the judges, All Champy was found to be in violation of the breaking rules and was placed from first to third, promoting Escaper to the winning position and Bringoverthemoney to second.

The personal time for Escaper was 1:55.1 a he recorded his ninth win of the season and his sixth local victory for trainer Maria Alvarez and owner Terrence Smith of Lancaster, Texas. The four-year-old Muscle Hill-Top Expectations gelding went over the $200,000 earnings mark with the victory in his 46th start. 

He returned $11.60 to win as the 9-2 third choice in the wagering.

Baby Flash (Mooney Svendsen, $4.80) charged home impressively in the lane to capture the $17,708 Open II Trot in 1:55.4 over Lexus Markus (Scott Cisco) and Wilamar Spark (Rick Magee) for her third win of the season and her 22nd career win. The four-year-old daughter of Southwind Flash-DJ French Baby is owned by trainer Rick Hullman in partnership with Keith Wilson and Brenda Lovetinsky.

Peanutbutterfalcon (Rick Magee, $2.20) went to the front early and gamely held off a big late challenge from Braggen Bliss (Luke Plano) by a head in 1:59.1 in the $29,167 Minnesota-sired sophomore 'A' trot. It was the eighth win of the season from nine starts for the Quality Kemp-Lindys On Fire gelding, who is owned by his breeder Jeri Roland and is trained by Dan Roland.

Werewolfofwysteria (Brandon Jenson, $6.60) prevailed by a neck over Step Machine (James Gould) in the $19,444 sophomore 'B' trot in 2:03 for his second career win for owner Larry Jenson and trainer Brady Jenson.

Driver Billy Mann led the program with three wins while Brady Jenson had a driving and training double and drivers Rick Magee and Luke Plano as well as trainers Maria Alvarez and Dan Roland all had doubles.

Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday, Aug. 19, with a nine-race program that will get underway at 7 p.m. (CDT). 

(With files from Running Aces)

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