Minnesota’s finest state-bred three-year-old pacers went postward Saturday night (August 8) for a recently-enhanced purse of $16,000.
When the smoke cleared, it was Toatsmygoats (Rick Magee) scoring his second triumph of the season in 1:54.4, besting Queen Of Denial (Nick Roland) by a half-length with Goochs Hot Rod (Dean Magee) another two lengths back in third.
Toatsmygoats sat fourth in the eight-horse field throughout the first three-quarters, then swung wide for the stretch drive and sealed the deal with a quickest-of-all :28.2 final panel.
The son of Relentless Yankee, owned by Van Otterloo Stables and trained by David Flinn, was the two-year-old Minnesota state champion on the merits of seven wins in eight starts but has taken longer to round into top form in 2015. He now has banked $61,440 — all earned at Running Aces — in just 15 lifetime starts.
Party Hangover Two (Steve Wiseman) returned to her winning ways in an $8000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace, turning back Rev Me Up (Nick Roland) and Kiss On The Lips (Gerry Longo) in 1:53 for her fifth win of the current summer meet. Owned by the partnership of Arnstine, Chambers and Plested, the speedy four-year-old daughter of Party At Artsplace upped her career bounty to $905,541 with the victory.
A $6,500 Open II for males was also presented with Cowboy Cold (Luke Plano) making a successful leap in class to win in 1:52.2. Plano took full advantage of a pocket ride to edge fast-closing Quality Sport (Steve Wiseman) by a neck. Front-runner Mattoxs Spencer (Nick Roland) faded to third in the lane, beaten by two lengths.
Three reinsmen scored driving doubles on the Saturday program — Tony Succarotte, Tim Maier and Rick Magee.
In addition to the purse increases from $11,000 to $16,000 on all Minnesota-sired races for two and three-year-olds, for the remainder of the Running Aces meet, all overnight race purses will be raised by 20 percent effective immediately.
Some stalls are available if any stable is interested in coming to Minnesota to try Running Aces for the final month of the season. Interested parties can contact Director of Racing Gregg Keidel at 651-925-4532.
(Running Aces)