Columbus, MN – The featured event on the Wednesday afternoon (September 9) Harness Racing program at Running Aces was the $11,500 Minnesota-Sired freshman colt & geldings trot with a field of seven square-gaited rivals lining up behind the gate.

The overwhelming 1-9 favorite in the race was a Rush To The Bank (Nick Roland) who was coming into the event with two wins in a row, and five wins in ten career outings.

Rush To The Bank with driver Nick Roland scores at Running Aces on Wednesday. Dee Letfwich photo.

Driver Nick Roland sent the favorite 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 the Banker Volo-sired Exacta that returned a handsome $71.40.

The winner is a gelding out of the Valley Victor mare Vacation Valley, 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 It’s 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.

PH 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 down-graded to sloppy. Gerald Longo is the winning owner and trainer, having claimed the horse last time out. Previous connections Jose Cervantes and Edward Hernandez claimed the 8- year-old Lis Mara gelding back today.

Driver Mooney Svendsen led the program with his second consecutive Hat-Trick day, and owner Benvenga Racing had two winners on the program.

Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Saturday, September 12 with first post at 1:00 p.m. (CDT) and will feature two carryover pools – $7,374.18 for the Pick-5 Jackpot, and $1,458.55 for the Early Pick-4.