by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces

Columbus, MN — The Tuesday evening (July 10) program at Running Aces featured the $12,000 Mares Open Pace, with a talented field of seven facing the starter.

Delightfully Wild (Lemoyne Svendsen) was last week’s winner in this event and was sent off as the even money choice while coupled in the wagering with Bettor Lady (Dean Magee).

Delightfully Wild set sail from the six post to establish command early, with Kiss On The Lips (Nick Roland) also firing from post five. Those two mares remained in the top two positions throughout as they peeled off fractions of :27.1, :56.1 and 1:24.1.

Turning for home, Nick Roland guided Kiss On The Lips into the inside passing lane and the two mares battled all the way to the wire, stopping the clock in 1:52.2 with Kiss On The Lips ($7.80) a neck in front of Delightfully Wild, with her stablemate Bettor Lady closing well to pick up third money.

Kiss On The Lips now has five wins in 26 starts this season and has bankrolled $41,054 for owner Peg Hoffman and trainer Gerald Longo.

Hard Cold Cash completed a four race win streak on Tuesday with another strong performance in the $10,000 Winners Over Pace, sweeping to the lead just past the quarter pole and holding the field at bay to score by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:53.3 with Dean Magee aboard for trainer Denise Maier and owner Antonia Storer.

Driver Nick Roland led the Tuesday program with three wins, with Mooney Svendsen and James Yoder both completing doubles.

The 20-cent Jackpot Pick-5 wager has a carryover of $4,735.56 and the 50-cent Hi-5 has a carryover of $1,223.60 when live racing returns on Saturday night (July 14).

The racing program on Sunday (July 15) will feature the $15,000 Dan Patch Preview pace and also play host to Public Safety night, with emergency vehicle demonstrations as well as special discounts for Public Safety workers.

Post time on both Saturday and Sunday is 6 p.m. (CDT).