Columbus, MN – The featured race on the Thursday night (June 18) program at Running Aces was the $9,000 top condition level for pacing mares and Fillister Photo (Easy Again) turned in a sharp effort to pick up her second win in just four starts this season.
Sent off as the 1.20-1 slight second choice in the field, driver Casey Leonard sent her into immediate action from post five and easily made the top while Miss May Bell (Nick Roland) secured the pocket from the inside post and slight favorite Eva’s Star (Brady Jenson) floated away in third during the quick :27.2 opening panel.
Leonard was able to steal a :30 second breather in the second quarter and had firm control as they raced down the backstretch. Divine Art (Gerry Longo) tried a first-over bid from fifth during the middle stages and was third on the outside as they rounded past the three-quarters juncture in 1:24.3.
In the homestretch, Fillister Photo continued to pace strong and the race was clearly for the place spot, with Eva’s Star rallying past Miss May Bell in the final strides to complete the exacta.
Fillister Photo ($4.40) stopped the timer at 1:52.1 for a new career mark and posted her final half mile in a very impressive :54.4.
The winner is owned by Scorpio Stables and is trained by Bob Lems, she now shows 27 career wins with earnings of $246,310.
Casey Leonard led the program with a driving triple while both Dean Magee and Nick Roland posted doubles.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday (June 21) for a 10-race Father’s Day program, which offers a ‘funky socks’ giveaway, Prize drawings, Food Trucks, Trout pond fishing, ‘Pepsi Family Night’ specials, and kid’s activities and the weekly ‘Sunday Sole Survivor’ contest. On the wagering side, there is a $18,084.52 carryover in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager, which gets underway in race six. First post is set for 6 p.m. (CDT).