Columbus, MN — The $14,750 Open Handicap Pace was the featured event on the Tuesday night (May 27) program at Running Aces and offered a very talented field of eight competitors.
Mac’s Marvel was sent off as the 3-2 public choice from post two while Aces newcomer War Machine garnered lots of pari-mutuel support at 9-5 from post six.
Driver Dean Magee wasted no time in sending War Machine into action, charging to the front immediately and relegating inside starter Zanetti (Rick Magee) to the pocket position while PD The Big Easy (Brady Jenson) got away third and Alilthundadownunda (Nick Roland) found an early seat in fourth from post eight.
War Machine had everyone seated in single file through the solid early fractions of :27.4 and :55.4 before Mac’s Marvel launched a first-over attack down the backside and Bettors Donttell (Gerald Longo) picked up the cover.
The outer flow failed to make much of an impression on the leaders and War Machine was in full command on the final turn and past the 1:23.3 clocking for three panels.
In the lane, Zanetti shook free from the pocket while both Alilthundadownunda and Mac’s Marvel (Billy Mann) began to close in late, but War Machine ($5.80) was already home free and posted a 2-1/4 length tally in 1:51.4 while Alilthundadownunda nosed out Mac’s Marvel for the place money.
War Machine is a 4-year-old son of Sweet Lou and is owned by Heart And Soul Racing and Jim Ballinger and is trained by Brett Ballinger. He now shows four wins this season and 11 career wins.
Nick Roland led the Thursday program with three driving wins while Billy Mann posted a driving double and Brady Jenson had two training wins.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday night (May 29) for a ten-race program that will get underway at 6 p.m. (CDT).