Stride The Hill added his name to the Running Aces record books on Sunday, Aug. 20 with an impressive gate-to-wire score in the $17,600 Open Handicap Trot.
Leaving sharply from post six with driver Kevin Wallis, Stride The Hill was able to secure the early lead from Bringoverthemoney (Mooney Svendsen) and Mind Yown Business (Brady Jenson), who both also left fast. He held a comfortable lead through fractions of :27.3, :56 and 1:25.1 before facing pressure around the far turn from Perlucky (Brad Irvine), who was first-over throughout the affair.
Rock Party (Dean Magee) came from well back in the field to make a sweeping three-wide rally as they rounded for the stretch but Stride The Hill kept to his task and trotted strong to the wire. He was able to hold off Rock Party for a half-length score with Bringoverthemoney a close third in the 1:54.4 mile, which equalled the track mark for four-year-old trotting geldings.
The victory pushed Stride The Hill's career win total to 11while also sending his career earnings past the $250,000 mark for owner A Piece Of The Action. Jenni King is the winning conditioner. The Muscle Hill-Open access gelding returned $7.40 to win.
Iron Sharpens Iron was back in action in the $18,250 Minnesota-sired sophomore male trot after a three-week layoff and he wasted no time in getting back to his winning ways.
Driver Luke Plano sent the sharp son of Banker Volo quickly from the gate from post four, taking a short lead before yielding to BPs Lucky Star (Mooney Svendsen), who also left sharply from post seven. BPs Lucky Star commanded through quick fractions in :28.3, :56.4 and 1:25.4 while Iron Sharpens Iron tracked intently from the pocket and the top pair drew away dramatically from the rest of the field.
Iron Sharpens Iron tipped out as they rounded for home and had plenty of trot to surge past BPs Lucky Star and draw clear for a 2-1/2-length tally, stopping the timer at 1:55 for a new career mark. A 73-1 longshot, Azteca Your Money (Brian Detgen), picked up third money while beaten just over 30 lengths.
Iron Sharpens Iron now has six victories in nine outings this season and 17 career wins from 21 starts, with earnings of $181,932 to date. The winning owners are Jeralene Roland, Devon Arp and Al Villarreal, and the winning trainer is Dan Roland. Iron Sharpens Iron paid $3.40 to win.
Wisco Tootise (Rick Magee, $4.80) posted a career-best effort in the $18,250 sophomore filly trot in 2:00.1 for her sixth triumph of the season.
After getting away in the pocket and then travelling in third, Magee launched her to the outside and they swept to the lead. In the homestretch, Stressful (Nick Roland) made a strong late bid, but Wisco Tootsie dug in gamely to hold on by a half-length for her third win in a row. Longshot Conways Pipsqueak (Sean Smithpeters) completed the trifecta.
Wisco Tootsie is owned by The Sandstone Social Club and is also trained by Dan Roland.
Jacob Cutting led the Sunday program with three driving wins, while James Lackey, Luke Plano and trainers Nathalie Tremblay and Dan Roland recorded doubles.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday, Aug. 22 with a nine-race program that will feature a carryover of $12,522.49 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot. Post time at Running Aces is 7 p.m. (CDT).
(Running Aces)