Drivers Dean Magee and Luke Plano dominated the Tuesday night (August 3) harness racing program at Running Aces, picking up four wins apiece on the nine-race card.
Plano swept the first three races on the night, including both splits of the $25,000 Minnesota-sired freshman trot event. Plano steered Poko Loki to his first career win in the $12,500 colts and geldings division to deliver as the heavy 1-2 favourite in the six-horse contest. The gelded son of Tamarind got away first from post three and then yielded the lead to Need More Cowbell (Mooney Svendsen).
After traveling in the pocket to the top of the lane, Plano guided Poko Loki ($3) to the outside and was able to trot past the leader in the final stages of the 2:00.4 mile for a half-length victory. The winner is owned and trained by Ulf Holm-Johansen and also owned by Susan Holm-Johansen.
Plano delivered a mild upset win in the $12,500 filly division when he piloted Calico Creek to a narrow victory in 2:00.4 for two wins in a row. Leaving from post four to get the early call, Plano then relinquished the lead to race favourite Vickies Vacation (Nick Roland). CR Promise to you (Brady Jenson) came on the attack and applied heavy pressure to the leader from before the five-eighths pole and all the way to the finish, while Plano sat patiently in the pocket and Scroll On By (Tony Kerwood) followed good cover. The top four fillies lined up across the track for a thrilling stretch drive and Calico Creek ($11) surged in the passing lane and was able to get a nose up on the line over Scroll On By and Vickies Vacation, with CR Promise To You just a half-length back in fourth. The winner is a daughter of Southwind Flash and is owned and trained by Jenni King.
Dean Magee picked up the baton and reeled off wins in the next three races, including the $12,000 Open Handicap Pace with race favourite Parklane Jet ($5.20). After sitting at the back of the pack through the quick opening half-mile (:26.3 and :55.2) set by Castle Flight and Swagasaurusrex, Magee launched to the outside and quickly swept to the lead as they headed into the far turn. Once on the lead, there was an immediate challenge from Whatchyastarinat (Tony Kerwood) and those two battled through the lane with Parklane Jet prevailing for a half-length tally in 1:53. The winner is owned by Terrence Smith and trained by Edward Hernandez.
Plano scored his fourth win of the night in race seven with Go Away N Play ($6.60) in 1:55.1 for trainer Quentin Schneider, and Magee answered back in race eight with a 1:54.1 tally aboard race favourite Numbered Account ($4.40) for trainer Justin Anfinson.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday (August 5) with first post at 6:05 p.m. (CDT) and the card will feature a carryover of $14,140.72 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager, and a carryover of $1,047.55 in the 50-cent Hi-5 wager.
(Running Aces)