The featured event on the Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 16) program at Running Aces was the $9,000 Open Handicap Trot. Heavy 2-5 favourite Mandeville (Nick Roland) was looking to extend a two-race winning streak after 22 days rest, and he succeeded in that very endeavour.
After two scratches reduced the field to five, Mandeville got to move in two spots on the gate and was fastest off the car from the outside spot. Justlikehim (Jacob Cutting) also left alertly from post four and got away second, but after sensing slow early fractions of :29 and :58.3, went on the attack before the half mile.
Justlikehim was parked and pressured the leader all the way to deep stretch, but Mandeville ($2.80) was able to fend him off and post a gate-to-wire victory by one length in 1:55.3. Magic MVP (Chris Scicluna) got up right at the wire to snag second away from Justlikehim.
Mandeville now has seven wins in 12 outings this year. He eclipsed the quarter-million dollar mark in career earnings with today's victory for owner-trainer Gerald Longo.
Trainer Alexia Kehl swept both divisions of the Two-Year-Old Open Trot, scoring in the first $4,500 division with filly Sunny P (Dean Magee, $8.40) in 2:08.2 for her first lifetime win for owners Neil Goldstein and Mercedes Cabrera.
In the second $4,500 division, Kehl was victorious with her own gelding Oh Danny Boy (Darrell Wright, $9.80), who also picked up his first lifetime win with a one-length tally in 2:03.2.
Driver Nick Roland led the Wednesday program with three winners, and Dean Magee registered a double.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Saturday (Sept. 19), with first post at 1 p.m. CDT and a $10,993.47 carryover in the 20-cent Jackpot Pick-5.
(Running Aces)