The Friday (September 16) harness racing program at Running Aces was loaded with feature events and they all provided plenty of excitement to the fans, with all three of the Invitational events being decided by less than one length at the finish.
The inaugural $25,000 Banker Volo trot was contested at a mile and a quarter distance, which was a first for Running Aces. The fans on the apron got to see a thrilling start that saw four across the track in the early strides of the event, with Mind Yown Business (Brady Jenson) leaving fast from post one and heavy favourite All American N (Luke Plano) also powering off the gate from post six.
All American N established the lead before they hit the backside for the first time and Jenson was content to get the pocket position with Mind Yown Business as Mandeville (Tony Kerwood) settled into third and Fox Valley Britzka (Dean Magee) claimed the fourth spot. The early fractions included a solid opening panel of :28.2 and the first half mile was completed in :58.1.
The field continued to play follow the leader as they rounded past the three-quarters in 1:28.
As they made their way down the backside for the second time, Pridecrest and Bordogna both tipped out from the back of the pack but they failed to make much of an impression on the leaders. The mile was completed in 1:57.3 and as they rounded the final turn it was clearly a two-horse affair.
All American N turned for home with a half-length lead but Mind Yown Business was loaded with trot and was drawing closer with every stride and those two battled head-to-head through deep stretch, with Mind Yown Business ($15.40) getting the upper hand in the final strides to post a three-quarter length tally in 2:27.2, establishing a track record for the distance. Mandeville was third best.
The winner is owned by Dirk Simpson Stable and Larry Barnett and is also trained by Jenson. The six-year-old son of Lockkeeper now shows five wins and $73,120 in earnings this season.
The $25,000 Goody Two Socks Invitational pace went to A Major Omen (Kerwood, $3.00) who delivered another impressive last-to-first sweep to make it four wins in a row and 13 wins this year for owner and trainer Gerald Longo. The mile was timed in 1:51.3.
The $25,000 Dandy Di Distaff pace went to Rockin With Lou (Dean Magee, $8.60) in 1:54 to complete a feature race double for owner/trainer Longo.
Its A Marcs World (Brian Detgen, $3.00) delivered a sharp gate-to-wire 1:53 score in the $15,000 Minnesota-sired Consolation for aged male pacers. The winner is owned by Royal Roland and Carol Polkowske and is trained by Jessica Johnson.
Live harness racing returns to Running Aces for Night of Champions on Saturday (Sept. 17) which will close out the 2022 season.
The 12-race program features all of the Minnesota-sired divisional Championship races, each going for $60,000 for a total of $720,000 in purses on the night.
There will be mandatory payouts in all pools on the Saturday program, and the 20-cent Pick-5 wager offers a carryover of $2,898.31 and an instant guarantee of $10,000.
The Aces Pick-5 sequence will cover Races 8 through 12 on the Night of Champions program. There is also a mandatory payout in the Late Pick-4 ($3,000 Guarantee), Late Pick-3 and the 50-cent Hi-5 wager in Race 12.
First post time at Running Aces is 7 p.m. (CDT).
(Running Aces)