The Tuesday afternoon (July 28) Harness Racing program at Running Aces featured the $10,000 Open Handicap Trot with a field of nine fronted by four-year-old horse Bordogna,who was looking to remain unbeaten in 2020 with an eight-race win streak.
Driver Rick Magee sent 8-5 favourite Bordogna ($5.20) alertly from post 9 and floated toward the front as Mandeville battled with Pridecrest for the first leading call. Bordogna quickly settled the issue by seating them both in behind as he took control just past the :28 opening quarter.
Magee settled his charge on the lead and remained well in hand through middle splits of :56.4 and 1:25.3 and had plenty left in the tank to stave off a late challenge by pocket-sitter Mandeville. Bordogna trotted home in :29.1 to stop the timer at 1:54.4 and score his eighth-consecutive win, a streak that goes all the way back to September of 2019.
Mandeville was a half length back in second and Muscle Ave was one-length farther back in third.
Bordogna, a son of Trixton, has won 20 races in just 36 outings. He has now bankrolled $78,075. The winning owners are Cathy Dessert and Ken Stauffer, and the winning trainer is Justin Anfinson. He paid $5.20 to win.
Pull The Shade was ultra game in the $10,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace to score her second-straight win at the top level, stopping the clock in 1:53.2 for owner Ferrell York and trainer Tim Maier.
Alwaysalittlemore was a sharp second at 41-1 and race-favorite Amasa Arion checked in third. Nick Roland drove the $8.40 winner.
The Tuesday program also featured two-year-old trotting and pacing action. May Day Maggie (Rick Magee, $4.80) scored her first pari-mutuel win with a sharp one-length tally from post 9 in the $13,800 Two-Year-Old "A" Pace in 1:58.1, while the $9,200 "B" division went to Twilight Sunset (Rick Magee, $3.20) on lifetime debut, also in 1:58.1.
The two-year-old trotting events went to Rush To The Bank (Darrell Wright, $7.80) in 2:03.4 in the $11,500 colts & geldings split to score two in a row, while The Royal Queen (Rick Magee) extended to three-in-a-row in the $6,000 filly division, scoring a career mark of 2:02.4 in the early non-wagering contest.
Driver Rick Magee led the program with a Grand Slam of four winners, while Nick Roland registered a double. Trainer Justin Anfinson completed a triple on the Tuesday card.
Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Saturday, August 1 with first post at 1:00 p.m. (CDT) and will feature a carryover in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager of $16,897.33.
(Running Aces)