The Thursday night (August 19) harness racing program at Running Aces was loaded with featured events and sharp performances, including a career-best mile for Shes A Showstopper in the $11,500 Minnesota-sired Sophomore ‘B’ pace.
Starting from post four in a seven horse contest, Driver Jacob Cutting guided the daughter of Its That Time away in fourth as Brooklyn Wind Up (Brady Jenson) and Mibwest Kid (Dean Magee) made the early pace. Cutting then launched the favourite into action near the half mile and they brushed toward the front and applied heavy pressure to Mibwest Kid as they rounded the far turn. The top two continued to battle as they straightened for the finish but Shes A Showstopper was strongest through the lane and drew clear to win by two lengths in a career best time of 1:55.3 for her first win of the season. Mibwest Kid held second and Starstruck Cowgirl got home third.
The last time that Cutting steered this filly to victory was in the freshman Championship race last October, when he became the youngest driver (at 19) to win a championship race at Running Aces. The winning owners/breeders are Van Otterloo Stables and the winning trainer is Gordon Graham.
The $13,800 Mares Open Handicap Pace went to Anna B (Brady Jenson, $6.60) in a dramatic finish that saw her come flying late and split pacers at the wire to get up for a neck victory over pace-setter Rockin With Lou (Dean Magee) in 1:53. Anna B sat third in the early stages and then was shuffled back to fifth as Rojo Caliente (Tony Kerwood) applied heavy pressure to the leader for more than a half mile while Oneida Blue Chip (Mooney Svendsen) followed the cover. Jenson saved ground throughout with Anna B and she was loaded with pace as they turned for home. He was able to guide Anna B into a narrow opening between the battling leaders in one of the sharpest drives of the season. Jenson is also the owner and trainer of the five-year-old daughter of Cams Rocket who now shows nine wins in 22 starts this year.
The $17,250 Minnesota-sired Sophomore ‘A’ Pace went to Alilthundadownunda (Nick Roland, $2.60) who posted an impressive half-length score in 1:55.1 despite being parked out for the first three-eighths of a mile. Once on the lead he was always comfortable and he paced home strong to hold off a late challenge from pocket-sitter Maze (Rick Magee) with May Day Maggie (Mooney Svendsen) getting home in third. The impressive son of Malak Uswaad N is owned by Set The Pace Racing and also trained by Roland. He now has 11 wins this season and has won 10 of his 11 starts at Running Aces.
Rosco P Coletrain (Dean Magee, $11.60) posted his first pari-mutuel win in the $10,781 freshman male ‘A” pace with a very impressive win by 2-3/4 lengths in a life's best 1:55.3. Magee sent the son of Wind Me Up right out of the gate and then yielded for the pocket, waiting patiently for the homestretch. After a miscue in the lane by front-runner Lovin On You (Brady Jenson) there was no chance of catching Rosco P Coletrain. Race favourite Antetokounmpo (Rick Magee) rallied for second while One Step Away (Tony Kerwood) picked up third. The winning owner is Edward Gutin and the winning trainer is Justin Anfinson.
Clean Coal (Mooney Svendsen, $13.40) posted his first career win in the $7,188 freshman male ‘B’ pace with a sharp gate-to-wire win in 1:59 for owner/trainer Bob Lems. Fiffer Feffer Fef (Jacob Cutting) was second best and time For T (Nick Roland) finished third.
Park With Me Nancy (Nick Roland, $2.60) delivered as the favourite in the $10,781 freshman filly pace with a sharp front-running score in 1:58 for her fourth career win in seven starts. Stablemate Anotherblazinwoman (Rick Magee) was home in second and Kitty Wampus (Jacob Cutting) checked in third. The top two finishers are both daughters of Wind Me Up and are both owned by Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte and trained by Justin Anfinson.
Drivers Nick Roland and Dean Magee both registered doubles and trainer Justin Anfinson had three winners on the program.
Live racing returns to Running Aces with a nine-race program on Sunday (August 22) headlined by the $17,500 Steve Wiseman Memorial Trot. The night also features the Twin-Cities kickoff of the Colon Cancer Coalition’s “Get Your Rear in Gear” awareness and fundraising campaign. Post time for the first race is 6:05 pm (CDT).
(Running Aces)