Running Aces closed out its 2019 meet with a bang on Saturday night (Sept. 14), as it hosted the annual Night of Champions card.
The Saturday program featured some strong numbers. The card offered record purses for Running Aces -- $543,500, which made it the most lucrative card of harness racing in the history of Minnesota. The 111 Minnesota-sired Standardbreds that participated in the historic card was also a new record. The strong closing night numbers were icing on the cake for another successful season at the Minnesota track. For the fifth consecutive year, a new record was set for total wagering on the track’s live racing product.
The large and enthusiastic on-track crowd was treated to some great racing throughout the evening, which was dominated by many impressive favourites, but also featured upset winners.
Burning Blaze pictured winning his championship with driver Steve Wiseman.
Burning Blaze turned in another ultra-impressive performance in the $40,000 three-year-old colt and gelding pace, as he produced a gate-to-wire win in 1:55.2 with Steve Wiseman in the sulky. He easily dominated some very strong competition. Burning Blaze has now notched back-to-back championship titles. Minnesota’s 2018 harness horse of the year had struggled somewhat during the early stages of his sophomore campaign, but he has returned to his best form over the past two months.
Burning Blaze was favoured at 3-5 in the wagering and returned $3.40 for every successful $2 win wager. The winning margin was two and three-quarter lengths over Trump Train (who was driven by Don Harmon) and SB Bodacious (Rick Magee). The winning owners were Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte and Edward Gutin. The winning trainer was Justin Anfinson.
Bunkerhill Phil turned an impressive win of his own in the $50,000 two-year-old colt and gelding pace. He recorded his tenth victory of the season and paced to a new lifetime mark of 1:56.1. Driver Don Harmon was in the bike and the duo did it the hard way (they endured a tough first-over trip for more than five eighths of the mile). Get My Good Side (Steve Wiseman) rallied for second money, while Dubberyoo (Dean Magee) was home in third.
Bunkerhill Phil was the heavy favorite and returned $2.80 on top. The impressive gelding is owned and trained by Gene Miller.
Susies Sister ($2.80) and driver Don Harmon dominated the $50,000 two-year-old filly trot as expected. The duo turned in a 1:59.1 track record performance. She has now won nine of her 13 career races. The impressive filly by Claudius Augustus is owned by Lynchris LLC and is trained by Don Harmon. Teachmehowtotory (Nick Roland) was by far the best of the rest in the record mile, while Double My Decker (Rick Magee) got home third.
Watchmeneighneigh provided the longshot players with a late-card delight in the penultimate race of the season. He registered a sharp closing win in a career-best mile of 1:53 while racing at odds of 57-1 in the $40,000 three-year-old colt and gelding pace. Driver Dean Magee worked out a perfect second-over trip and tipped wide into the lane with plenty of pace. The duo got up right at the wire and upset the heavily favoured Stuckey Dote in a thrilling finish. Deweydiddonegood (Mooney Svendsen) was an impressive third.
The winning tickets on Watchmeneighneigh returned $117.00 for every $2 bet.
The championship victory was career win number eight for the gelded son of Voracious Hanover. The win boosted his career bankroll to $89,045 for owner/breeder Richard Davelaar. The winning trainer was Gordon Graham.
Other repeat champions were Twilight Tinker (2:01.1), Al Mar Reba Babe (1:56.4), Windmeupnwatchmego (1:55.3), French Eclipse (1:57.2), and Place N First (1:55).
The other first-time champions were Ice Storm (1:59.1), Hearduwhispermynam (2:01.2), and Huftalookatdatfany (1:58.4).
Trainer Gordon Graham harnessed four winners during the Night of Champions program, while owner/trainer Jenni King sent out three winners during the historic night.
Driver Dean Magee was recognized as the leading driver of the season. He picked up three championship victories on Saturday. He registered a total of 87 wins during the meet and earned his third career leading-driver title at Running Aces. Trainer Kathleen Plested was honoured as the leading trainer of the 2019 season (40 wins), which was her third consecutive Running Aces conditioning title.
Drivers Nick Roland, Don Harmon, Rick Magee and Steve Wiseman all recorded two wins on the Night of Champions card.
Running Aces offers year-round action (it simulcasts racing from 11 a.m. to midnight every day, and its casino is open 24/7). Live racing will return to Running Aces in May 2020. Visit runaces.com for information about upcoming events.
(With files from Running Aces)