Columbus, MN — The featured event on the Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 29) program at Running Aces was the $9,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace with a field of seven talented distaffers lining up behind the gate — and only a neck separating the top three at race’s end.

The wagering favorites in the contest were a trio of New Zealand imports: My Kiwi Lady N was hammered down to 1-5, and the José Cervantes-owned entry of Motu Moonbeam N and Quite A Delight N were sent off as the clear second choice at 5-2.

My Kiwi Lady N (Jacob Cutting) worked hard from the outside post to get to the front before the :28 opening quarter. Quite A Delight N (Dean Magee) surged past to take over the lead before the :57.2 half mile and fended off pressure from Alwaysalittlemore (Mooney Svendsen) all the way up the backside and around the far turn.

As they straightened for home, the other two New Zealand imports bore down from both sides on the leader, and the Kiwi trio hit the line together in a thrilling photo finish. When the dust cleared, it was Motu Moonbeam N (Braxten Boyd, $7.80) — who had rallied from last to first — who got up right on the money over My Kiwi Lady N and Quite A Delight N. The top three were all separated by just a neck in 1:54.3.

The winner is an 8-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight trained by Edward Hernandez. The feature win was the sixth tally of the season and 25th career score for the winner of $460,115.

Driver Rick Magee led the Tuesday program with three winners, and owner-trainer Mark Anderson had two winners on the card.

The 20-cent Jackpot Pick-5 carryover now stands at $17,908.84.

Live racing continues at Running Aces through Oct. 4. Post Time is 1 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.