Running Aces closed out its 2026 live racing season with the Minnesota Night of Champions program on Saturday, Sept. 19 as 12 divisional championships went behind the gate for $91,549 each.
The sensational freshman pacing filly Slipped Onmybeans ($2.20) made it eight wins in a row with a sharp gate-to-wire score in 1:55.3, finishing 2-1/4 lengths ahead. Dean Magee was the winning pilot on daughter of Captainryanmichael-Fancy Little Girl for owner/trainer/breeder Scott Banitt.
Brady Jenson harnessed four winners, starting with Model Good Looks ($3) in the sophomore filly trot. The daughter of Southwind Cobra-Hula Majic prevailed by three lengths in 1:58.2 with Jenson in the bike for owners Larry Jenson and Ken Stauffer.
Wishingiwasfishing ($16.40) drew clear by 3-3/4 lengths to take the two-year-old colt-and-gelding pace with Brandon Jenson aboard for Brady Jenson. The New Jersey Viking-Funrise colt stopped the timer in 2:02.1 for Larry Jenson and Brady Anderson.
The conditioner made it a triple as Hotcheddar Flirt ($2.20) took the championship for three-year-old pacing distaffs by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:56. He took the lines of the Karpathian Kid-Hotcheddarbrat filly for owner Dennis Green.
Brady Jenson also drove Spiritofanoutlaw ($3.20) to a three-quarter-length victory in 1:52.4 in the older male pace final. He owns the five-year-old Western Trademark-Mariah Blue Chip gelding.
Jenson has racked up a career-best 127 victories this season for his first triple-digit-win campaign. He was crowned as both the 2026 leading driver and leading trainer at Running Aces, sweeping both titles for the third straight year. He became the fourth driver to surpass 100 wins in a single Aces season with his 104 victories, and his 90 training tallies is a new track seasonal record.
Miss May Bell ($7.40) was the fastest winner of the night with her 1:52.3 tally in the older mares pace for owner/breeder Merlin Van Otterloo. Nick Roland drove the Karpathian Kid-Eternitys Delight four-year-old mare to the neck win for trainer Brett Ballinger.
Bombi ($37.40) reached up to upset by a nose in 1:54.4 in the rookie male pace for trainer Mark Anderson and driver Mooney Svendsen. Anderson owns the Three Of Clubs-Big White Pearl colt.
Jrs Starburst ($2.10), driven by Casey Leonard, charged from 17-1/2 lengths back at the half to a 4-1/4-length triumph in 2:01.4 in the final for rookie filly trotters. Harold Herrera trains the daughter of World At War Deo-Viserion for Friendship Stables LLC and George Dremonas.
Hm Magical Money ($10.60) took the sophomore colt-and-gelding trot by a length in 1:59. Nick Roland trained and drove the Tom Ridge-Bit A Magic gelding to victory for Thomas Shipley, Kathy Shipley and Royal Roland.
Baby Flash ($3.60) repeated as champion in the aged mare trot as the Rick Huffman trainee strode to a two-length victory in 1:55.2. Nick Roland steered the five-year-old daughter of Southwind Flash-Dj French Baby for owners Huffman, Keith Wilson and Brenda Lovetinsky.
Dp Freedoms Chrome ($2.60) captured his third career Minnesota championship with a 4-1/2-length triumph in the aged male trot. Dean Magee steered the five-year-old For You Almostfree-Wannabee Loved stallion to victory for trainer Elvin Zimmerman and owner Aimes Racing.
Driver Nick Roland posted three wins while Dean Magee drove two winners.
Live racing will return to Running Aces in May 2027 for the Minnesota track's 20th season of harness racing.
(Running Aces & Standardbred Canada; photo of Slipped Onmybeans winning on Sept. 19)