The Tuesday, September 1 live program at Running Aces offered co-featured events, each of which carried a purse of $8,500.
The Mares Open Handicap Pace was dominated by My Kiwi Lady N (who was driven by Chris Scicluna), who surged to the front early from Post 5 and made the lead just at the quarter in :27 seconds. Pull The Shade (Nick Roland) and Another Beach Day (Braxten Boyd) both left alertly and then yielded the front to My Kiwi Lady N.
Once on top, the seven-year-old daughter of Art Major was well in command and benefitted from a :30.1 breather in the second panel. She then paced a strong final half mile in :56 to keep her rivals in chase mode. Another Beach Day applied pressure down the backstretch and into the far turn, but was unable to sustain her bid beyond the three quarters mark.
My Kiwi Lady N ($7.80) stopped the timer in 1:53.1 and tallied a two and a quarter-length score over Pull The Shade and Motu Moonbeam N (Dean Magee). The victory was the third win of the season, and 13th lifetime for the victress, who is also owned and trained by Chris Scicluna.
Justlikehim (Jacob Cutting) captured the Open Handicap Trot that featured a thrilling stretch battle and subsequent three-horse photo finish.
Bordogna (Rick Magee) was the heavy favourite and surged to the lead early from Post 5, while Muscle Ave (Dean Magee) left fast to secure the pocket. Justlikehim launched a first-over bid just past the three-eighths mark and took the overland route from there.
Bordogna remained in complete control until they straightened for the wire, when Justlikehim surged alongside the leader and they battled all the way to the line, with Muscle Ave joining them with a late burst of speed.
The photo finish revealed that Justlikehim ($11.00) had a nose in front of Bordogna at the wire, with Muscle Ave beaten just a neck in third.
The mile time of 1:55.1 was a new career mark for the winner, who is a five-year-old gelding by My MVP that is owned by Orlando Nevarez and trained by Edwin Quevedo.
Chris Scicluna led the Tuesday program with two driving wins and two training wins.
Live racing will return to Running Aces on Saturday (Sept. 5) with first post at 1:00 p.m. (CDT) and will feature a carryover in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager of $4,481.33.
(Running Aces)