The Sunday evening (Sept. 1) harness racing program at Running Aces played host to a $14,000 Open Handicap Trot, with seven talented square-gaiters lining up for battle in the featured event on the card.
Winning Lyric (Dean Magee) was in search of a third straight win in the Open class, and was heavily favoured in the betting at 3-10. Long shot Bordogna (Darrell Wright) was quickest away from the gate and took command of affairs through a quick :27.3 opening panel, while Pridecrest (Steve Wiseman) came away second in the early stages. The fractions from there were sensible — :58.0 and 1:27.2 — and Bordogna continued to lead, with Its A Horse (Tim Maier) launching a sustained first-up rally from near the half-mile and Winning Lyric looming large three-wide rounding the final bend.
Its A Horse ($48.80) gradually drew on even terms with Bordogna, and then took over as the field began to fan out as they straightened for home. Winning Lyric (Dean Magee) charged hard on the outside and tried hard to get past the new leader as they battled right down to the line, but Its A Horse held on for a neck victory in 1:56.2 over Winning Lyric and a late-closing Scramble Camp (Nick Roland).
The six-time winner this season is a six-year-old gelded son of Full Count owned by Ray Alan Miller and trained by Marco Rios.
Real Gorgeous ($3.80) and owner-trainer-driver Jared Seekman rolled to another impressive win in 1:52.3 in a $7,500 conditioned pace to extend his winning streak to four in a row. The five year old gelded son of Hes Gorgeous is in top career form, and is unbeaten at Running Aces since arriving in early August.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday (Sept. 3) with first post at 7 p.m. Central.
(Running Aces)