The Sunday (Sept. 12) harness racing program at Running Aces was loaded with featured trotting events, including the weekly $13,800 Open Handicap, which drew a talented six-pack of square-gaited rivals for the seventh race of the evening.
Last week’s winner Mind Yown Business (Dean Magee) was sent off as the even-money favourite while All American N (Luke Plano) was also heavily supported at 8-5.
Pridecrest (Mooney Svendsen) was fastest off the gate getting the first call, while All American N also left quickly from the outside post and worked hard to take over the lead near the :28.3 quarter-mile checkpoint with Bringoverthemoney (Jacob Cutting) watching the early battle from third.
Mind Yown Business got away fourth and then tipped first-over and drew alongside the leader down the backstretch and into the far turn while Bordogna (Nick Roland) recovered from an early miscue to pick up the live cover.
As they straightened for home, the top four fanned out across the track and Pridecrest was fastest of all in the passing lane to get up and draw away for a 1-1/4 length tally in 1:55.3. Bringoverthemoney just edged out Bordogna for second.
Pridecrest ($19) is an Ontario-bred nine-year-old gelded son of Angus Hall, who now shows 45 career wins and $414,600 in earnings on his record. He is owned by Christopher Schick and is trained by Kathleen Plested.
The $14,375 Minnesota-sired sophomore male trot event went to Rush To The Bank (Nick Roland, $2.40) for his 10th win of the season and 20th career score. The sharp son of Banker Volo went gate-to-wire in a career-best 1:58.3 mile, drawing away by 7-1/2 lengths with a :28.3 final quarter. Ice Titan (Mooney Svendsen) was home in second and Hide Your Banker (Luke Plano) was well back in third. Dan Roland trains the gelded son of Banker Volo for owners Jeralene Roland and Vickie Rush.
The $14,375 Minnesota-sired sophomore filly division went to Coatofmanycolors (Brian Detgen, $2.80) for three wins in a row and her 10th win of the season. Detgen got away in third with the heavily favoured daughter of Tymal Templar while The Royal Queen (Rick Magee) set the pace and Its So Fluffy (Luke Plano) sat in the pocket. The top three fillies were lined across the track at the wire with Coatofmanycolors getting up for a half-length tally in 1:58.4 over The Royal Queen, who was just a nose ahead of Its So Fluffy. The winner is owned and trained by Jenni King.
Drivers Brian Detgen and Nick Roland each posted a double on the Sunday program, while trainer Quentin Schneider also posted a double on the card.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday, Sept. 14 with first post at 6:05 p.m. (CDT) and the card will feature a carryover of $1,556.80 in the Pick-5 Jackpot wager. This is the final week of live racing for the 2021 season and there are special race programs on Friday (Sept. 17) and Saturday (Sept. 18), which will close out the season with the $560,000 Night of Champions program on Saturday.
(With files from Running Aces)