The weekend of harness racing at Running Aces was highlighted by the track’s annual Community Charity night on Sunday (August 6), with management, fans and horsemen all coming together to support five vital local charities.
On the racetrack, the best mile of the night was turned in by JDS Brent N Sheree in the featured $7,000 conditioned pace. Driver James Yoder floated away from the gate in third from post one, and then launched a first-over attack past the three-eighths marker, continuing to gradually grind down front-runner Swagasaurus Rex (Dean Magee). JDS Brent N Sheree ($3) took the lead as they turned for home and proceeded to draw away from the field, posting a sharp win by five and a quarter lengths in 1:52.4 despite a sloppy track at that point. The winner is a five-year-old gelding by Panspacificflight and is trained by Robert Lems for owner Truman Gale. The victory was his second straight in three local starts.
The featured trotting event on Sunday was a $5,500 conditioned event and heavy race favourite Lodi Dorian Blues ($2.80) did not disappoint in the affair, posting his sixth win in 16 starts this season, closing from off the speed to draw away in the lane by two and a half lengths in 1:58. Steve Wiseman was in the sulky for trainer Kathie Plested-Wiseman and owners Scott Ehrlich and George McChrystal.
Driver James (J.D.) Yoder posted a hat-trick on Sunday with three wins on the card and Steve Wiseman completed a driving double.
The 20-cent Jackpot Pick 5 wager has a carryover of $28,009.68 for Tuesday night (August 8).
On Saturday night (August 5), the Yoder-driven Swinging Again ($3.60) picked up his fifth lifetime win with a new mark of 1:53.2 in the $8,000 Minnesota conditioned pace, the featured event on the card, for owners Wolfswinkel Pacers and trainer Gene Miller. Steves Hot Rod (Rick Magee) was very game in defeat, finishing a strong second.
Mooney Svendsen was back in action, after missing two nights of racing following a racing accident last week, and he wasted no time getting right back to the winner’s circle, posting a driving double on the Saturday program. Mooney won with the maiden-breaking sophomore trotter Spectre Of A Gun for trainer Kathie Plested-Wiseman, paying $29.80. Mooney also scored with Hi Hos Little Rev, paying a $6.60 win return, as that five-year-old pacer picked up his 11th lifetime tally in 1:55.4 for owner/trainer Bob Johnson.
(With files from Running Aces)