The featured event of the Sunday evening (Sept. 5) Harness program at Running Aces was the $13,800 Open Handicap Trot, with a talented field of seven square-gaited rivals going in to battle.
Mind Yown Business (Dean Magee) was second by a nose in last week’s edition and was sent off as the 3-2 favourite from post three, while last week’s winner All American N (Luke Plano) was given 2-1 odds.
Mandeville (Brian Detgen) was away quickly from post two for the first call, but Bordogna (Rick Magee) surged from post six to take the lead, and All American N also left from the outside post before making a miscue as they headed around the first turn.
The opening quarter flashed up in a quick :27, and Bordogna remained well in command throughout the middle stages of the contest (:56.4 and 1:25.2) before facing a challenge from Mind Yown Business, who came first-up from third and applied pressure around the far turn, while Bringoverthemoney (Jacob Cutting) followed live cover.
Bordogna and Mind Yown Business battled through the lane, and Mind Yown Business ($5.00) was able to grind out the victory by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.4. Bringoverthemoney was third.
The winner is a five-year-old gelding by Lockkeeper, owned by Dirk Simpson Stable and Lawrence Barnett and trained by Brady Jenson.
The $8,100 Open Handicap Trot for three-year-olds went to Coatofmanycolors (Brian Detgen, $3.80), who delivered a gate-to-wire performance in 1:59.4 as the favourite, registering her ninth win of the season for owner/trainer Jenni King. The Royal Queen (Mooney Svendsen) was second throughout and Hide Your Banker (Luke Plano) was third best.
Driver Tony Succarotte made a big impression in his first drive of the Aces meet when he delivered the second highest win payout of the season as he piloted Messin With Melesa ($90.00) to a gate-to-wire tally in 1:57.1 in a $5,200 pacing event for owner Rick Huffman and trainer Justin Anfinson. It was the fourth win of the year for Messin With Melesa.
Brady Jenson led the Sunday program with three driving wins and a training double, while Jenni King also posted a training double.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday night (Sept. 7) with first post at 6:05 p.m. (CDT).
(Running Aces)