Columbus, MN – Sophomore pacers were in the spotlight at Running Aces on Thursday night (July 30) and Cool Mr Cool delivered yet another dazzling performance to solidify his position as the division leader among the male Minnesota-sired contenders.
Sent off as the heavy 1-5 chalk from post 5 in the $17,000 “A” split for 3-year-old male pacers, Cool Mr Cool floated away in fifth position early and sat briefly before driver Casey Leonard activated him to the outside and he swept to the lead, making the top near the three-eighths marker and relegating Diesel Thunder Boy (driven by Scott Cisco) to the pocket while Luke Skyrocker and driver Luke Plano traveled in third.
The fractions were solid (:27.4, :56.4 and 1:25.1) and Cool Mr Cool held firm control during the middle stages of the affair, with Westward Ho and driver Brady Jenson making a first-over bid and Wild About Me (Nick Roland) following the cover around the far turn.
In the lane it was all Cool Mr Cool, who kicked into high gear with a :27.4 final panel to leave his rivals 2-3/4 lengths behind at the wire in the 1:53 mile. Diesel Thunder Boy held second and Westward Ho rounded out the trifecta.
Cool Mr Cool ($2.60) is by Wind Me Up. He was bred by Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte and has now won six races and $61,115 for owners Kyle Larner, Jay DeLong and Terry Knothe and trainer Justin Anfinson.
K T Part E (by Cattlewash) posted another very sharp effort in the $16,000 Mares Open Handicap pace for her eighth win of the season.
Trainer/driver Brady Jenson floated K T Part E away fourth on the outside before joining a mad scramble for the top that included both Premier Desirey and Mother Mary. K T Part E had to work hard to get to the lead but landed in front well before the half and was never in doubt after that, en-route to a 1-3/4-length tally over Mother Mary in 1:51.1, with Miss May Bell getting up late for third.
Jenson also owns the $2.60 winner.
Sparklinchardonnay (by Aracache Hanover) pulled off a 9-1 upset win in the $17,000 filly pace for her third win of the season and a new career mark of 1:55.3. She was a half-length better than Prone To Wander, with Hotcheddar Flirt checking home third.
The $20.60 winner is owned, trained and driven by Nick Roland and also owned by Carol Polkowske.
Swinging On Over ($2.40) captured the $8,500 sophomore “B” division with a career-best 1:55.4 mile over Just Like Gotti and Im Easy Peasy.
Mooney Svendsen was the winning pilot for trainer Anfinson.
Drivers Casey Leonard, Nick Roland and Brady Jenson all posted triples on the Thursday night card, while Roland also had a training triple and Anfinson, Brett Ballinger and Jenson each scored training doubles.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday night (Aug. 2) for a 12-race program that will feature the $50,000 Dan Patch FFA final as well as a mandatory payout in the 20-cent Pick-5 wager, which has a carryover of $49,844.95.
Sunday night is also “Pepsi Family Night” and offers specials and kid’s activities, trout fishing, food trucks, a “Sole Survivor” handicapping contest and a Dan Patch puzzle giveaway. Post time is set for 6 p.m. (CDT).