Columbus, MN — The Tuesday night (July 2) program at Running Aces was loaded with exciting races and impressive performances and Tuggin On My Heart (Rockin Amadeus) delivered one of the top performances of the night in the featured $15,500 Open Handicap Pace.

Driver Jacob Cutting left from post seven with the 6-year-old pacer and floated up on the outside while American Dreamer (Todd Warren) charged to the front and Ynotthishos (Nick Roland) secured the pocket early. Once the top two settled in near the :27.1 quarter, Cutting pressed forward to take the lead and cleared to the top well before the three-eighths marker.

Tuggin On My Heart prevailed by 1-1/4 lengths in a seasonal best 1:51.4 mile. Nicole Tate photo.

Tuggin On My Heart controlled the tempo from there, checking the field in for a :55.3 half while Mac’s Marvel (Brady Jenson) got underway from fifth and No Lou Zing (Mooney Svendsen) followed his cover. Mac’s Marvel moved into second position as they rounded past the three-quarter pole in 1:23.4 and the top two kicked clear of the rest near the top of the lane.

Tuggin On My Heart ($6.80) continued to pace strong and Mac’s Marvel tried to come and get him but the night belonged to Tuggin On My Heart who registered a solid final quarter in :28 to prevail by 1-1/4 lengths in a seasonal best 1:51.4 mile. No Lou Zing was a further length back in third.

The winner is owned by Dave Dobbelmann and Cathy Dessert and is trained by Edwin Quevedo. He now shows six wins from 14 starts this year, and has 27 career wins with earnings of $273,260.

Cash Money Twenty (Stevensville) captured the $9,000 freshman Open Handicap Pace with a very impressive gate-to-wire score in a career best 1:56.4.

Driver James Kennedy wasted no time in sending his charge to the front from post seven while Blazin For Life (Rick Magee) and Captain Nate (Jeff Hunt) dropped in second and third, respectively. Cash Money Twenty ($5.80) was never in doubt and he saved his best work for the stretch, responding very gamely when Blazin For Life pulled the pocket and drawing clear to win by 3-1/2 lengths over Blazin For Life while Captain Nate was a clear third.

The winner is owned by Heart And Soul Racing and is trained by Brett Ballinger. He is now unbeaten in two career starts.

International Ice (Ice Machine) delivered another big performance to capture the $9,000 freshman Open Handicap Trot in a new mark of 2:02 with Mooney Svendsen in the bike. After going right to the lead from post six, the pair were never in doubt and drew away in the final stages to post an eight length romp over Peanutbutterfalcon and SD Imma Superstar.

International Ice ($2.10) is now 2-for-2 in his young career for owners Dave Dobbelmann and Triple Q Stables and trainer Edwin Quevedo.

Edwin Quevedo led the Tuesday program with four training wins while drivers Dean Magee and Brady Jenson both recorded doubles.

Live racing returns to Running Aces on Wednesday (July 3) with a special Independence Day celebration program which gets underway with a first post at 6 p.m. (CDT).