Driver Mooney Svendsen vigorously hoisted his whip in the air as he headed back toward the winner’s circle after the 2024 Steve Wiseman Memorial Trot on Sunday night at Running Aces, as if to say, “we did it Steve... we did it.”
Svendsen, who was extremely close with the late trainer/driver Wiseman and considered him like a brother, had just piloted All Champy to victory in the $47,945 event, surging when it counted the most and getting up to win by a head in a time of 1:55. The magic of the story does not end there. All Champy hails from the Wiseman barn and is trained by the late horseman's wife Kathie Plested-Wiseman for owner Stephen Chambers. For these connections to win this race was a truly meaningful moment.
The emotions were palpable. It was a magical and historic result to a great race. The Steve Wiseman win song, “Whatever It Takes,” played over the PA system and the Running Aces Hotel building, which flanks the winner’s circle, suddenly lit up in the Steve Wiseman colours.
Wiseman passed away in 2021 after a year and a half long battle with colon cancer and the Wiseman Memorial Trot has been held ever since to honour his legacy as one of the most popular and most accomplished trainer-drivers in the history of this racetrack.
Each year, the Colon Cancer Coalition is represented at the Wiseman event and raises funds and awareness about the importance of early screening and detection which can save many lives.
This year’s Wiseman field was ripe with talent, with eight horses going into battle that had collectively earned more than $2.5 million. All Champy was the leader on the earnings list with more than $600,000 on his card going into the Wiseman final.
Domovoy, who set a new Aces trotting track record of 1:53 on June 26 and won his elimination in 1:54, drew the rail in the final and was the 1-2 favourite when the starter said “go” while All Champy was the clear second choice at 3-1.
Domovoy (Jacob Cutting) was fastest off the mark and easily established command while All Champy left alertly from post three to secure the pocket and Bringoverthemoney (Dean Magee) landed in third during the :27.1 opening stanza. That lineup remained intact through the middle stages in :55.4 and 1:24.4 before Warrawee Whisper (Brady Jenson) and Toccoa Falls (Williams Hernandez) both advanced on the outside.
As they turned for home, Domovoy was under heavy pressure as Warrawee Whisper surged to even terms while All Champy shook free from the pocket and Bringoverthemoney surged inside. It was a thrilling four-way battle to the wire and All Champy surged in the final few strides to get up by a head for the victory over Warrawee Whisper, with Domovoy checking in third and Bringoverthemoney a close fourth.
A 10-year-old gelded son of Explosive Matter, All Champy now has four wins this season from 11 outings and 43 career wins, while his career earnings have now swelled to $657,287. He paid $8.60 to win.
DP Freedoms Chrome (James Gould, $2.10) made it eight wins in a row at Running Aces with a 2-1/4-length tally in the $28,767 Minnesota-sired sophomore ‘A’ trot in 1:56.1 for trainer Elvin Zimmerman and owner Aimes Racing. The son of For You Almostfree has now won 18 of 19 career races.
Insurrectionist (Banker Volo, $7.40) posted a big first-over effort to capture the $19,178 sophomore ‘B’ trot in 2:02.3 for his seventh career win. Trainer Dan Roland was the winning driver for owner/breeder Jeralene Roland.
Races eight through 12 were cancelled after an equine emergency in the paddock after race seven caused a lengthy delay, which compromised the Lasix times for the remaining races on the program.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday, Aug. 20 for a nine-race program that will feature a carryover of $29,202.18 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager, which will get underway in race five. First post on Tuesday is 7 p.m. (CDT).
(Running Aces)