SB Bodacious was ultra-game in the Tuesday night (September 7) harness racing feature at Running Aces, delivering as the 7-5 favourite in the $13,800 Open Handicap Pace for his eighth win of the season.
Rick Magee sent his star pacer right to the lead from post six in the seven-horse affair and seated the competition in behind him with a fast :26.4 opening stanza. Once on the lead, SB Bodacious was well in control of the contest and Magee was able to steal a second quarter breather in 30 seconds before turning the speed back on in order to thwart a first-over attack by So So De Vie (Mooney Svendsen).
SB Bodacious posted a final half in :56 flat to keep everybody in chase mode, and checked in a half-length in front of a fast-closing Numbered Account (Dean Magee) with Castle Flight (Brian Detgen) close behind in third in a 1:52.4 mile. He paid $4.80 to win.
The five-year-old Voracious Hanover gelding now has 22 wins from 66 career starts and has bankrolled $171,819 to date. Magee is also the winning owner and trainer.
The $14,375 Minnesota-sired freshman filly trot event went to Scroll On By (Tony Kerwood, $21) for her second career win and a new mark of 1:59.3.
Kerwood left the gate alertly from post nine with the daughter of Banker Volo and found a seat in fourth as Calico Creek (Brian Detgen) and race favourite CR Promise To You (Brady Jenson) traded turns on the lead.
Kerwood tipped Scroll On By near the half-mile juncture and they made a swift move to the lead opening up by two lengths as they headed into the far turn, and widening the lead from there. Vickies Vacation (Dean Magee) shook free late for second but Scroll On By was five lengths ahead at the wire and CR Promise To You held third. The top two finishers are both trained by Dan Roland, and the winner is owned by Kennedy Roland.
The $14,375 Minnesota-sired freshman male trot event went to Poko Loki (Tony Kerwood, $3.80) for his fourth career win. The gelded son of Tamarind went gate to wire in 2:02.1 over Shadow Fax (Dean Magee) and Need More Cowbell (Mooney Svendsen). The winner is owned by Susan Holm-Johansen and trainer Ulf Holm Johansen.
Driver Tony Kerwood scored a natural hat-trick in Races 2, 3 and 4 on the program, and both Rick Magee and Jacob Cutting scored driving doubles, while trainer Dan Roland also posted a double on the program.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday night (September 9) with first post at 6:05 p.m. (CDT). The final four race nights of the meet will be next Sunday (September 12), Tuesday (September 14), Friday (September 17) and Saturday (September 18), which will feature the annual Night of Champions program.
(With files from Running Aces)