The featured event on the Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 9) program at Running Aces was a $11,500 trot for Minnesota-sired freshman colts and geldings, with a field of seven square-gaited rivals lining up behind the gate.
The overwhelming 1-9 favourite in the race was Rush To The Bank (Nick Roland), who was coming into the event with two wins in a row and five wins in 10 career outings.
Driver Nick Roland sent the favourite straight to the front and dominated the affair with moderate fractions of :30.1, 1:02 and 1:32.2 over the rain-soaked oval, which was rated as good.
There was never an anxious moment for Rush To The Bank ($2.10), as he kept his rivals well behind throughout the mile, and kicked home in :30.2 to check in 7-3/4 lengths ahead in 2:02.4.
Half-brother Hide Your Banker (Brandon Jenson) got up for second over Oh Danny Boy (Darrell Wright) to complete a Banker Volo-sired exacta that returned a handsome $71.40.
The winner is a gelding out of the Valley Victor mare Vacation Valley, and is owned by Jeralene Roland and Vikki Rush and trained by Dan Roland.
Trotstyle Takeover (Mooney Svendsen, $13.60) scored her first career win in the $11,500 freshman filly trot in 2:07, closing late to just get up over the Banker Volo filly Its So Fluffy (Dean Magee) by a nose. Sunny P (Darrell Wright) was home third.
The winning filly is by Braggart and is owned by trainer Brett Ballinger, along with Darren and Suzanne Taylor and Benvenga Racing.
P H Kenny (Darrell Wright, $7.20) extended his winning streak to five in a row in a $12,000 claiming pace with another sharp mile in 1:55.4 over the surface that had been downgraded to sloppy. Gerald Longo is the winning owner and trainer, having claimed the horse last time out. Previous connections José Cervantes and Edward Hernandez claimed the eight-year-old Lis Mara gelding back today.
Driver Mooney Svendsen led the program with a second consecutive hat trick, and owner Benvenga Racing had two winners on the program.
Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Saturday (Sept. 12) with first post at 1 p.m. CDT and two carryovers featured: $7,374.18 in the Jackpot Pick-5, and $1,458.55 in the Early Pick-4.
(Running Aces)