Running Aces Harness Park, now in its seventh season, established a new handle record on Sunday night when $270,252 was bet on the 11-race program, which featured fuller-than-normal fields and highly competitive races.
Over one-half of the races were decided by a half-length or less and only one winner had more than a two length advantage at the wire. Only two favourites prevailed on the night with win prices ranging from a low of $5.80 to a high of $21.80.
The weekly Sunday feature, a $10,000 Open Pace, was won by Headsup Yankee in 1:52.3. The five-year-old Minnesota-sired gelding has made steady progress since joining the Open ranks three weeks ago, finishing third and then second before Sunday's victory. The son of Relentless Yankee is owned by Ken Stauffer's Trot-Away Stable and was trained and driven by Nick Roland. He beat Silver Spir (Jason Ryan) and Del Rio Seelster (Lemoyne Svendsen).
The win was one of four on the night for Roland, who also scored with Justthewayitis, Split Ticket and Gift Of Honor.
A Running Aces newcomer, Natives Revenge, shocked a group of conditioned horses and optional $5,000 claimers with a nine-length dominating performance clocked in 1:51.4 for his new trainer/driver Steve Wiseman. A recent arrival from Hoosier Park, where the four-year-old Allamerican Native gelding was no better than fourth in his last six outings, Natives Revenge went directly to the lead in his initial Minnesota appearance and never looked back throwing an impressive :54 final half. The winner, who beat Peanuts (Rick Magee) and Peytons Troubador (Kim Pluta), is owned by Harold Actkinson.
Leading driver Jason Ryan visited the winner's circle three times on Sunday, guiding Shes A Foxie Lady, Terror Time and R Gauwitz Hanover to narrow victories.
(Running Aces)