Iron Sharpens Iron and A Major Omen turned in two of the most impressive performances on the Tuesday night (Aug. 23) program at Running Aces.
Iron Sharpens Iron started from post nine in the $19,800 Minnesota-sired freshman ‘A’ trot and was sent off as the 1-10 favourite while looking for his sixth win in a row.
Driver Luke Plano wasted little time in getting the sharp son of Banker Volo to the front of the contest, settling on top right near the quarter-mile mark. From there, the only remaining questions were what the winning margin would be and if he would lower his track record time from earlier this month. The answers were 4-3/4 lengths and yes indeed. He posted a final time of 1:59.2 to lower the track mark for two-year-old male trotters by one-fifth of a second.
Whata Tettegouche (Dean Magee) was second best for the fifth consecutive time and Al Mar Richs Jetta (Brandon Jenson) rallied from well back to pick up third money.
Iron Sharpens Iron ($2.20) now has eight wins in nine career starts and has bankrolled $61,805 to date for owner/breeder Jeralene Roland and trainer Dan Roland.
A Major Omen (Tony Kerwood, $8.60) posted a very impressive first-over effort in the $19,800 Open Handicap Pace for his 10th win in 26 starts this season.
Race favourite Caliber (Plano) was fastest from the gate from post six and set quick fractions up front (:26.4, :55.2 and 1:23) while Saddle Up (Dean Magee) also left alertly from post five to secure the pocket and Zanetti (Rick Magee) got away in third. A Major Omen got away in fifth from post seven before he was activated by Kerwood near the three-eighths marker. The impressive son of Art Major closed in methodically on the leader and drew alongside as they swung for home and was able to out-kick his top rival by a half-length at the wire in 1:51.4 with Saddle Up checking in third.
The winner is owned and trained by Gerald Longo.
Wisco Wild Card ($3.40) posted his first career win in the $13,200 freshman ‘B’ trot with a sharp looking gate-to-wire score by 1-1/4 lengths in 2:01.3 over Azteca Your Money (Brady Jenson), who was an impressive second while Conways Pipsqueak (Plano) was well back of the top pair but rallied for third money. The winner is a son of Southwind Flash. He was piloted by Tony Kerwood for owners Debra and Rick Davis.
Also on Tuesday, reigning Minnesota Harness Horse of the Year Alilthundadownunda (Brian Detgen, $3.40) picked up his eighth win of 2022 in a $12,000 conditioned pace in 1:53.3, sending his seasonal earnings to $111,286 for owner Set The Pace Racing and trainer Jessica Johnson.
Dean Magee, Rick Magee, Plano and Kerwood all registered driving doubles on the Tuesday card. Trainer Jose Castillo also had a double.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday (Aug. 25) with a 10-race program that will feature a carryover of $16,995.44 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager. First post is at 7 p.m. (CDT).
(Running Aces)