The Sunday evening (August 8) harness racing program at Running Aces was loaded with feature events, including four Minnesota-sired contests and the weekly Open Trot feature.
The $14,375 sophomore filly trot event drew a field of six and public choice Coatofmanycolors (Nick Roland) was fastest away from the gate from the outside post to control the tempo all the way to the top of the stretch through fractions of :29.1, :59.2 and 1:29.1 before The Royal Queen (Rick Magee) emerged from the pocket and Its So Fluffy got rolling from third. The Royal Queen ($4.80) had the most trot through the lane and posted a final quarter of :28.1 to register a 1-1/4 length tally in 1:57.3 over Its So Fluffy, with Coatofmanycolors holding a clear third. The impressive victory made it three in a row and established a new lifetime mark for the daughter of Tom Ridge, who now shows 10 wins from 24 career races. She is owned and trained by Justin Anfinson.
Driver Rick Magee also converted a pocket trip into a sharp victory with SB Sampsons Ridge in the $14,375 sophomore boy’s trot with a half-length tally in 2:00 over front-runner and race favourite Rush To The Bank (Nick Roland). The top two finishers battled through the stretch with SB Sampsons Ridge ($6.80) prevailing for his third straight win for owner Mikaela Del Giudice. Magee is also the winning trainer.
The $13,800 Open Handicap Trot went to All American N (Luke Plano), who delivered a dominating performance in 1:57 as the public choice. Starting from the outside six post, Plano wasted no time in getting the seven-year-old son of Muscle Hill to the front of the field and they controlled the contest from start to finish, posting a 1-3/4 length tally over newcomer Mind Yown Business (Brady Jenson), with Susies Sister picking up the third spot. All American N ($3.40) is trained by Edward Hernandez and has now won six races this season for owner Jose Cervantes.
There were two additional Minnesota-sired events on an early non-betting card.
They included the $9,375 freshman male Class ‘A” pace, which went to Antetokounmpo (Rick Magee) in 1:56 for his first lifetime win. The son of Easy Again is owned by Mikaela Del Giudice and is also trained by Magee. Roscoe P Coletrain was second-best and Lovin On You was home in third.
The $10,000 Sophomore Class ‘B’ pace went to Doubleontherocks (Luke Plano), who rallied from third to draw away late and post a 1-1/4 length tally for her first local win in 1:56.3 over Weeha, with Muffin Top picking up third. The winner is a daughter of Lettherockbegin and is owned by Nikki Hudson and also trained by Plano.
Driver Rick Magee posted a grand slam on Sunday, while Nick Roland posted a double. Magee also registered a training double, along with Edward Hernandez.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday (August 10) with first post at 6:05 p.m. (CDT) and will feature a carryover of $15,339.67 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager.
(With files from Running Aces)