An all-time record handle and a pair of 1:54 wins in the co-featured races highlighted the Tuesday night (August 3) program at Running Aces Harness Park
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The $133,910 pushed through the windows was the highest ever at the third-year Minnesota track and the 12th time in 37 nights thus far this season that the handle has exceeded $100,000, a figure that was never reached in the first two years of harness racing.
“We’re grateful that the industry is beginning to notice that we have more races, fuller fields of competitive horses and more recognizable drivers this season,” said Director of Mutuels Ben Blum. “Hopefully, our momentum will continue right through closing day, August 28, when we will present Minnesota State Championships Day with well over $100,000 in purses.”
On the track, ML Jackhammer (Daniel Maier) won the weekly Open Pace for the fourth time this season. The seven-year-old Sign Of Success gelding, owned by Linda Magnusson, chose the front-end route this time to best Who Am I (John DeLong) and Out Of My Hands (Dean Magee) in the $6,500 event.
Dandy Di (Tom Tetrick) captured the $7,500 Minnesota-sired Open Handicap for the third time in the last six weeks. The five-year-old RCs Sammy mare, owned by Chris Lems, has finished second in her other three recent starts. The winner bested Cheese Plumper (DeLong) by a length with three-year-old Restless Yankee (Craig Banks) closing well for third.
(Running Aces)