Columbus, MN – Hoo Nien A (Jacob Cutting) rallied from off the pace to take the $8,500 feature at Running Aces on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 12).

Hoo Nien A with driver Jacob Cutting drew away late to win the Running Aces feature Saturday. Dee Leftwich Photo.

Stuckey Dote (Darrell Wright) and Heza Real Diamond (Nick Roland) battled up front through a torrid opening half mile (:25.3, :54.4) while Cutting bided his time at the back of the pack with Hoo Nien A.

Parklane Jet (Dean Magee) launched a first-over attack down the backside and Cutting picked up the cover before rolling three-wide around the final turn with Hoo Nien A ($7) who surged to the front and drew away late to win by 4-1/2 lengths in 1:51.3.

Heza Real Diamond held second and Stuckey Dote was third.

The winner is an 8-year-old gelding by Always A Virgin who now has 22 career wins and $167,548 in the bank. Chris Scicluna is the winning owner-trainer.

The $11,500 Minnesota-Sired sophomore filly pace went to It’s Pacific Time (Rick Magee, $2.10) who dominated in gate-to-wire fashion from post eight with a 1:56.4 mile for her ninth win of the season for owner John Hendricks and trainer Joel Mc Danel.

Huftalookatdatfany (Nick Roland) was second and Catchmeinadream (Jacob Cutting) was third.

The $6,900 sophomore colts & geldings pace went to Bunkerhill Phil (Braxten Boyd) in 1:58 for four wins in a row. The winner is a gelding by Vlos, owned and trained by Gene Miller.

Driver Jacob Cutting led the Saturday program with three winners – scoring a natural hat-trick in races five through seven. Rick Magee posted a driving double.

Live racing continues at Running Aces through Oct. 4, with action four days a week at 1 p.m. (CDT).