On Saturday, September 16, the $353,300 Night of Champions program closed out the 2017 meet of live racing at Running Aces with another fantastic and enthusiastic live crowd on hand for the final event of the season.
The championship races kicked off early, as a trio of two-year-old trotting fillies squared off for a $35,000 purse in the first of two non-wagering events. Dekker (driven by Rick Magee) picked up her first lifetime win in the contest with a 2:04.2 victory by one and a half lengths over The Sweetest Thing (Dean Magee) and Floatinonthebreeze (Jenni King). Dekker is a filly by Braggart, and is trained by Justin Anfinson for owners Jesse, Eric and Benjamin De Long.
In the other ‘non-bettor,’ Its Stormin Money made it two wins in a row in capturing the winner's prize in the $35,000 three-year-old filly trot championship in 2:02.1 with Steve Wiseman at the controls for owner Bryce Jenson and trainer Brady Jenson. The victory was a 13 and a half-length romp over Ritchess Brandy (Brady Jenson) and Imapixieatmidnight (Nick Roland).
Bragginade ($4.60) took the $35,000 two-year-old geldings trot championship, with a dominating gate-to-wire victory by two and a quarter lengths in 2:04 with trainer/driver Nick Roland in the sulky. It was the sixth victory in nine starts for the son of Braggart, who is owned by Set The Pace Racing, LLC. Bringoverthemoney (Rick Magee) picked up second, and Stonecold Stunner (Steve Wiseman) was home in third.
Bertha Vanation ($21.60) pulled the 9-1 upset in the $35,000 two-year-old filly pace championship courtesy of an aggressive drive by Dean Magee. The filly by Voracious Hanover was part of the early battle for command, but settled away in fourth before sweeping to the lead just after the quick :28.1 quarter. Bertha Vanation faced some heavy pressure around the final turn from Aint No Uppy Girl (Rick Magee), but was able to turn back that challenge, and dig in gamely to the wire as favourite Ellamennopee (Steve Wiseman) was roaring down the inside. Bertha Vanation held on for a neck victory in a lifetime-best mile of 1:56 for trainer Joel McDanel and owner John Hendricks.
Dream Chasin ($11.00) converted the pocket trip into his first lifetime win to take the championship in the $35,000 two-year-old geldings pace in 1:58.1 with Rick Magee in the sulky for Michelle and Gregory Budach, over favourite Watchmeneighneigh (James Yoder) and pace-setter Here Comes Teddy (Nick Roland). The winner is a son of Fancy Schmansy.
Al Mar Foxyeclipse ($6.40) took top honours in the $35,000 three-year-old trot championship event, as he posted his fifth lifetime tally with a new mark of 2:01.4 with Dean Magee in the sulky for trainer Joel McDanel and owner Mark Holtan. Liquorskwikker (James Yoder) checked in second, while Al Mar Country-Luv (Rick Magee) was home in third.
Whatitdo Babyboo ($4.00) delivered as the public's choice in the $35,000 three-year-old filly pace, as she scored her 14th lifetime win and seventh win of the season in 1:56 with driver Steve Wiseman aboard for trainer Brett Ballinger and owners Van Oterloo Stables. Following her signature racing style, Whatitdo Babyboo was unhurried in the early stages of the affair, as she was away in the sixth position from Post 7, but was out and moving first-over just before the half mile juncture. Wiseman had his filly in perfect striking position as they turned for home and she paced strong through the lane to take the lead and post a half-length victory over a the tough pacesetting Exsqueezeme (Nick Roland). Swinging Again (James Yoder) finished third.
Twenty-one-year-old trainer/driver Brady Jenson pulled off a rare feat in the $35,000 championship for three-year-old pacing geldings, as he sent out a pair of trainees in the contest and picked up the top two positions at the wire in the ten-horse field. Jenson steered Marktentwentyseven to victory over stablemate Too Much Too Quick driven by Nick Roland. Both horses are owned by the Jenson family, with Brandon, Natalie Rae and Larry Jo being the owners of the winner. The pair of sophomore pacers were both away near the back of the pack, and took full benefit of the fast fractions up front (:27.4, :56, and 1:24) and were both charging three-and-four wide turning for home. With a sixteenth of a mile to go, it was clear that a Jenson trainee was going to be the winner, the only question was: which one? Marktentwentyseven ($33.40) was closing widest of all – and fastest of all – and got up for the three-quarters of one length victory in a new lifetime mark of 1:55.4. The winning gelding is by Up Front Brad.
Pas Corn Squeezin ($23.60) pulled off yet another upset during the evening in the $17,500 four-year-olds and up mares pace championship. Nick Roland was aboard for trainer Timothy Brown and owner Dave Haness. The pocket-rocket-style victory in 1:55.2 was win No. 5 on the season for the five-year-old daughter of General Aidid. American Dancer (James Yoder) was just a neck back in second, and favourite Cruzin Coco (Dean Magee) was third best after having cut the mile.
The $25,000 four-year-olds and up trot championship was won by Mr Jackpot – in what was his second career championship – in 1:57.2 with Dean Magee in the sulky for proud owners Marlene and Jodi Wilson and trainer Glen Wilson. Mr Jackpot ($26.60) is a four-year-old gelding by Money Talks, and the championship victory was career tally No. 10. Whatevershesgot (Lemoyne Svendsen) was second, and race favourite Becky Badger Baby (Nick Roland) was home in third.
The final Championship event, and final race of the 2017 season, was the $17,500 four-year-olds and up pace, which featured a well-matched field of ten. The night and the season closed out with another upset winner, as SwagasaurusRex and Minnesota Harness Racing Hall of Fame member and driver Lemoyne ‘Mooney’ Svendsen got up for a triumphant victory, one which was worthy of a whip raised to the skies at the wire by Svenden. SwagasaurusRex ($40.80) started from Post 10 on the second tier, and was well off the pace early. Svendsen had him in motion and in the flow going into the final turn, and was in striking position turning for home. He took a seam right down the middle of the track and drew away from the field by two lengths in 1:53.1 to post the fastest mile of the night and take a new lifetime mark. SwagasaurusRex is a four-year-old gelding by Voracious Hanover that is trained by Dean Magee for owner Richard Davelaar. Gravelsinmytravel (Dean Magee) was home second, thus completing the trainer ‘one-two punch’ yet again on the evening. Stuckey Dote (Nick Roland) was third.
(Running Aces)