Columbus, MN – The Sunday night (May 31) program at Running Aces featured the top trotters in Minnesota, with not only the Open handicap event, but two divisions of Minnesota-sired sophomores as well as the second leg of the Banker Volo series.
In the $15,000 Open, Chapolier (driven by Luke Plano) was sent off as the 9-5 public choice from post 6 and was trying for his third straight trip to victory lane. Aces newcomer Fifty Rivers, with driver Casey Leonard, got a lot of pari-mutuel support as the 2-1 second pick and Escaper (Rick Magee) was also highly regarded by players, going off as the 5-2 third choice.
Go Have Fun (Brady Jenson) left fast from the inside draw and faced quick challenges from both Fifty Rivers and Escaper as they wheeled around the opening turn, with Fifty Rivers briefly making the top just after the :27.3 quarter before yielding to Escaper for the pocket trip while Go Have Fun was relegated to third.
Escaper called the shots through the middle stages in :56.4 and 1:25.2 while Chapolier launched his rally from the back of the pack and Lexus Markus (Scott Cisco) picked up the cover.
Escaper held a short lead turning for home with Chapolier baring down on the outside as the entire field stacked up for the stretch battle. Inside the final sixteenth of a mile, Leonard guided Fifty Rivers into the passing lane and surged to the wire to grab a three-quarter-length victory in 1:55.1 over Chapolier while Go Have Fun, who angled clear late, flew home to grab third money.
Fifty Rivers ($6.60) is a 4-year-old son of Fiftydallarbill and is owned by JMF Racing and trained by Kathie Plested. He now shows six wins and earnings of 92,380 on the season.
SV Shining Star (Rick Magee, $3) delivered as the big favorite in the $17,500 Minnesota-sired filly trot, posting a new career mark of 1:58.3 for her fourth career win. The impressive daughter of Be The Best is owned by Jay DeLong and trained by Justin Anfinson.
Bang Bang Boogie (Rick Magee, $4.60) rallied from fourth at the top of the lane to draw away for a 2-1/2-length tally in 1:59.1 in the $17,500 colts division for his third win of the season for owners Stephanie Anfinson and Ken Stauffer and trainer Justin Anfinson.
Chicora (Leonard, $2.80) made a triumphant return to Running Aces with a 2-1/2-length tally as the heavy chalk in the second leg of the Banker Volo series in 1:58 for her third career win for owner/trainer Jenni King.
Casey Leonard led the program with four driving wins while drivers Scott Cisco and Rick Magee and trainers Dan Roland and Justin Anfinson all posted doubles.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday night (June 2) with an eight-race program that will feature a carryover of $7,696.63 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager, which will start in race four.