Real Gorgeous became the fastest harness horse in Minnesota history when he paced to a 1:50.1 victory at Running Aces on Sunday (Sept. 8). The five-year-old son of Hes Gorgeous is owned, trained and driven by Jared Seekman. The victory was his fifth consecutive win.
Undefeated at Running Aces this season, Real Gorgeous ($2.20) was the overwhelming favourite to get the job done Sunday. After starting from Post 5, Seekman floated his charge away in fifth position, as he took his usual seat toward the back of the pack early. Holdingallthecards (driven by Dean Magee) engaged in an early speed battle with Whatchyastarinat (Darrel Wright) through a sizzling opening panel in :26.1, and then continued to pace strong with a :54.2 half mile before Real Gorgeous launched his customary mid-race first-over attack.
Real Gorgeous swept right on by Holdingallthecards as they straightened down the backstretch and opened up by three lengths, while Whatchyastarinat vacated the three-hole to come after Real Gorgeous and began cutting into the margin around the final turn as they completed three quarters of the mile in 1:21.4.
In the homestretch, a furious battle ensued. Real Gorgeous braced for the strong challenge from Whatchyastarinat, who tried hard to get by, but Real Gorgeous dug in deep and responded gamely to hang on for a half-length victory and an all-time/all age track record mile of 1:50.1.
Real Gorgeous and owner/trainer/driver Jared Seekman prevail over Whatchyastarinat in a strong battle to the wire to record the fastest mile ever at Running Aces (1:50.1).
The previous record was set by Nine Ways, in the $50,000 Dan Patch FFA Pace on July 21 of this year, when he and driver Dean Magee stopped the timer in 1:50.2 to better his own 1:50.3 mark from his Dan Patch elimination win on July 14. Before that, a record of 1:50.4 stood for six years, tied by several horses but never beaten before this season.
The $16,000 Open Handicap Trot was also a featured event on Sunday's program, and Winning Lyric ($4.60, Dean Magee) delivered another impressive victory for his sixth win of the year, trotting the mile in 1:55.3 to defeat a very game My Uncle Cuz (Don Harmon) who was an impressive second. Winning Lyric is owned by Terrence Smith and trained by Edward Hernandez.
MD Magic ($4.00, Nick Roland) was much the best again in the $16,000 Minnesota-Sired Three-Year-Old Trot, with a sharp score in 2:00.1, and heads to this coming Saturday's Night of Champions program with eight wins and $62,550 on the season, and a chance to break the single-season record ($70,300) for earnings in the Minnesota program, that he himself set last year as a freshman. MD Magic is owned by Set The Pace Racing, LLC. and is trained by Nick Roland.
Driver Steve Wiseman led the program on Sunday with four wins, while leading driver Dean Magee added a hat-trick to his impressive season's win total (83).
Live racing will return to Running Aces on Tuesday night (Sept. 10) for the final ‘Dollar Night’ program of the season. Post time on Tuesday is at 7:00 p.m. and the card will feature a Pick-5 Jackpot carryover of $6,915.25 and a Hi-5 Carryover of $1,323.08.
(Running Aces)