Columbus, MN — The Tuesday night (Aug. 20) program at Running Aces featured freshman Minnesota-sired pacers and trotters and High Country Baby stole the show with an impressive inside rally to capture the $17,000 colts and geldings ‘A’ pace in a thrilling three-horse battle to the wire.
Race favorite Swinging On By (Dean Magee) went to the front of the affair and made the early pace while Tutto Bene (Todd Warren) secured the pocket and Blazin For Life (Rick Magee) traveled in third through the first three panels in :28, :58.1 and 1:27.1.
Blazin For Life made a brief bid on the outside and then High Country Baby inherited the third position around the far turn. Tutto Bene pulled the pocket as they swung for home and High Country Baby and driver Williams Hernandez took closer order on the inside.
In the stretch drive Tutto Bene drew on even terms with the leader and then High Country Baby posted a strong surge in the passing lane which resulted in a close three-way photo finish. After the dust settled the camera showed that High Country Baby had gotten up to win by a head over Tutto Bene and Swinging On By in the 1:57 mile.
It was the second win in a row for High Country Baby ($20.20) and also a new career mark for the son of Three Of Clubs who is owned by KT Racing and Maria Alvarez and is trained by Hernandez.
Peanutbutterfalcon (Jeff Hunt, $3.00) made it four in a row in the $17,500 colts and geldings trot with another impressive gate-to-wire effort in 2:01.4 over Tutti Frutti Rudy and CD I’m The Winner for owner/breeder Jeralene Roland and trainer Dan Roland.
SHS Miss My Mama (Luke Plano, $3.40) posted her third straight win in the $17,500 filly trot with a 3-1/4 length tally over HM Magics Touch and SHS Southern Pride in a career best 2:02.3 mile for owner Larry Jenson and trainer Brady Jenson.
Delco Kathleen (Warren, $2.80) got up late to win by a half-length over stablemate Linked To Chaos in the $17,000 filly pace in 1:57.2 with Skooch’s Valentine getting home in third. The top two finishers are owned by Jay De Long and are trained by Justin Anfinson. Delco Kathleen has now won five of 10 career races.
Yellowstone Kid (Sean Smithpeters, $6.20) converted a prefect pocket-trip into his first pari-mutuel win with a three length victory in 2:00 over Lets Boogie and Fancy Art Show in the $8,500 freshman ‘B’ pace for owner Ken Stauffer and trainer Anfinson.
No Lou Zing (Warren, $4.00) posted a huge first-over effort from post eight to capture the $15,500 Open Handicap Pace in 1:52.3, getting up to win by one length over Juju Hanover and Commanding Officer for his fourth win of the season for owner A Piece Of The Action and trainer Bob Johnson.
Drivers Luke Plano and Todd Warren and trainers Justin Anfinson and Bob Johnson all had doubles on the program.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday night (Aug. 22) for a 12-race program that will feature a carryover of $32,033.66 for the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager which will get underway in race eight. First post on Thursday is 6 p.m. (CDT).