The Saturday afternoon (Sept. 26) program at Running Aces played host to the Minnesota-Sired pacing sophomores with a total purse of $23,000.
The $11,500 filly division drew a field of seven with the Van Otterloo Stables entry of Hokey Toots (Darrell Wright) and Huftalookatdatfany (Nick Roland) sent off as the 2-5 favorites. Scarlett Ruby (Dean Magee) was the clear second choice in the field at 7-2.
Huftalookatdatfany was fastest away and quickly established command from post three while Scarlett Ruby also left very sharply and landed in the pocket, and D Vigilante (Brian Detgen) got away in third.
The early fractions were moderate (:28.4, :59.1) before Thegreatestislove (Brady Jenson) launched a mild first-over attack during the middle stages. Huftalookatdatfany was able to rebuff the challenge and led all the way into the lane but Scarlett Ruby had picked up the perfect trip and was loaded with pace near the wire, getting up for a one-and-three-quarter lengths tally in 1:57.2 for a career mark. Huftalookatdatfany held second over D Vigilante.
Scarlett Ruby ($9.00) is a daughter of Fancy Schmancy, owned by Dan Lehman and also trained by Dean Magee.
The $11,500 colts and geldings division went to Its A Marcs World (Nick Roland, $2.20) for two in a row. The sharp son of Marced Card has now won eight of eleven starts this year after another four-and-a-quarter length romp in 1:54.4.
Bunkerhill Phil (Braxten Boyd) was second best and Nothinbutagoodtime (Darrell Wright) checked in third.
The $8,500 Horses and Geldings Open Handicap Pace went to Heza Real Diamond (Nick Roland, $3.20) who converted a pocket trip into a 1:52.2 score by a neck over pacesetter Hoo Nien A (Chris Scicluna). Heza Real Diamond now has eleven wins in twenty starts on the season for owner Orlando Nevarez and trainer Edwin Quevedo.
Driver Nick Roland led the Saturday program with three wins and Jacob Cutting scored a driving double. Trainer Jessica Johnson also had two winners on the card.
The 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot carryover is now $16,005.27.
Live Racing continues at Running Aces through Oct. 4, with action four days a week at 1:00 pm (CDT).
(Running Aces)