Columbus, MN — The Thursday night (June 6) harness racing program at Running Aces treated fans to a thrilling finish in the featured $15,500 Mares Open Pace.

A well matched field of nine distaffers went into battle to determine who would take the title of the top mare on the grounds for the week, but this week that title would have to be shared.

Two Pistol Annie (inside) and Better Double Flip hit the wire together in the Mares Open Pace in 1:54. Nicole Tate photo.

Public choice Two Pistol Annie (James Kennedy, $3.80) went right to the front from post three while Better Double Flip (Todd Warren, $6.40) left alertly from post nine, got away fourth and then launched a first-over grinding bid near the half. Two Pistol Annie led every step but the last while Better Double Flip continued the first-up bid and JK My Girl (Brad Irvine) tracked from the pocket. At the wire the photo finish camera could not separate the top two on the line in the 1:54 mile, and JK My Girl was the best of the rest while 1-1/4 lengths back of the two winners.

Two Pistol Annie is owned by Dave Dobbelmann and trained by Edwin Quevedo and Better Double Flip is owned by Wilson Racing Stable and Ann Calvert and is trained by Tim Wilson Jr. along with assistant Jenni De Menge.

Apple Juice (Jacob Cutting, $4.00) posted a three-quarter length tally for two in a row in the $16,000 Minnesota-sired sophomore filly pace in 1:54.4 over Delco Irene (Brady Jenson) and Suddenly Famous (Warren).

Moon Kid Photo (Chad Svendsen, $9.40) shook free from traffic late and surged on the outside to win the $11,000 sophomore ‘B’ pace in 1:58.2 for a new career mark. He got home just over a length ahead of Bapa’s Double Knot (Cutting) and Stashin Cache (James Gould).

Celebrity Status (Luke Plano, $8.60) posted a sharp looking gate-to-wire score for two in a row in the $16,000 sophomore boys pace in a career best 1:54.3 while checking home one length ahead of both Boom Boom Bullseye (Jeff Hunt) and Spiritofanoutlaw (Mooney Svendsen).

The victory by Celebrity Status also marked a big milestone for winning trainer Nick Roland, as it would register as his 1,000th career training win.

Minnesota Minnie (Gary Rath, $6.60) was a front-running winner of the $7,000 sophomore ‘C’ pace in 1:57.2 for her first career win. She got home three-quarters of a length better than Keep Sweet N Obey (Gould) and Howl At The Moon (Roland).

The second-leg action in the Burning Blaze pacing series saw Townline Vickielou (Elson Miller, $6.80) win the first division in 1:55.1 and Charmingsix (Dean Magee, $2.60) win the second split in 1:56.4 for his third straight win.

James Kennedy led the Thursday program with two driving wins.

Live racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday night (June 9) for a 12-race program that will feature a carryover of $10,921.58 for the 20-cent Pick-5 wager in race eight.