On Sunday night (Aug. 25), Running Aces featured Open Handicap races for both trotters and pacers during the 11-race card.
The $15,000 Open Handicap Trot saw Banker Volo (who was driven by Nick Roland) get down to the quarter pole first in :28. Winning Lyric (Dean Magee) then launched an early first-over attack near the :58.2 half mile marker to surge to the front. Its A Horse (Tim Maier) came after the new leader immediately and applied heavy pressure down the backstretch and onto the final turn.
Winning Lyric ($3.40) fought back gamely as the field turned for home and began to pull away from the field. He ended up posting a two and three-quarter-length victory in 1:55.2 over a track that was listed as ‘good.’ Its A Horse and French Eclipse finished in a dead heat for second.
Winning Lyric has had a fantastic campaign this summer at Running Aces. He has recorded five wins, four seconds and three thirds from 13 starts for owner Terrence Smith and trainer Edward Hernandez.
Fox Valley Nemitz (Brian Detgen) picked up a big win in the $17,000 Open Handicap Pace to get home first from Post 7 and defeat nine foes.
Contemporay Legend (Rick Magee) flew off the gate for the early lead while Bettors Promise (Mooney Svendsen) left alertly and both Firedrake (Nick Roland) and Nine Ways (Dean Magee) also came away charging fast into the first turn looking for a front position, through a fast :27.1 opening panel.
Firedrake pressed up alongside Contemporay Legend and led through the middle stages (:56, 1:24.2), but was parked the entire way. Despite the brutal trip, Firedrake continued to fight on and eventually cleared, only to face immediate strong pressure from Nine Ways who had also been out the entire way. Firedrake turned back the challenge of Nine Ways, then fought off Skim The Top (Don Harmon), but was unable to withstand a furious late charge from Fox Valley Nemitz on the far outside.
Fox Valley Nemitz came from way off the pace and rallied three-wide around the final turn. He found clear sailing in about the four-path in the lane to sweep by for a one and a half-length victory in 1:53 over Firedrake, who kept the rest of the field at bay and held second in a monster effort.
Fox Valley Nemitz ($30.00) has recorded five wins from 16 starts this year. He has now banked $45,855 in seasonal earnings for owner Susan Holm-Johansen. The winning trainer was Ulf Holm-Johansen.
Live racing will return to Running Aces on Tuesday (Aug. 27) with a full menu of carryover pools: $851.54 for the Early Pick-3, $1,847.25 for the Early Pick-4, $2,268.90 for the Jackpot Pick-5, and $1,067.17 for the High-5.
Post time for the 12-race program will be at 7:00 p.m. (Central).
(With files from Running Aces)