Running Aces’ Tuesday night (Sept. 11) feature was an $11,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace, which saw the top two pacing mares of the track’s season square off one last time in the final week of the facility’s 2018 meet.
Kiss On The Lips (driven by Dean Magee) charged fastest from the gate from Post 5 to open up the mile in :27 flat. Gold Star Mysti (James Yoder) floated away from the gate with speed as well and swept to the lead just before the three-eighths pole. Gold Star Mysti led comfortably from that point onward and posted a half in :55.4 and the three-quarters time in 1:24.4. She kicked home with a :28.2 final stanza to maintain a solid one and a half-length margin at the wire in 1:53.1 over Kiss On The Lips and Totally Racy (Steve Wiseman). Gold Star Mysti ($2.80) now has seven wins after 13 trips to the gate this season while bankrolling $52,250 for owners Gold Star Farm and trainer Margaret Audley.
Pridecrest ($2.10) is also wrapping up his ‘Aces’ season in style. He rolled to his fourth consecutive win while capturing the $11,000 featured trot for driver Steve Wiseman in 1:55.3.
The track’s 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot carryover has swelled to $41,769.84 for this coming Saturday night (Sept. 15) and there is also a carryover in the 50-cent Early Pick-4 wager of $1,355.86 for the ‘Night of Champions Program’ on Saturday. Total purses will approach $400,000, which will make it the richest night of harness racing in Minnesota history. The evening will also offer fans plenty of chances to win hats, t-shirts, betting vouchers and other prizes, as well as a live broadcast of the card with NAHUpicks.com and live music from Jake Nelson.
(With files from Running Aces)