by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces Casino & Racetrack

Columbus, MN — One of the featured events on the Tuesday night (July 25) program at Running Aces was the $8,000 Minnesota-Sired 2-year-old filly pace and Ellamennopee ($2.80) stole the show with another dazzling performance for her second straight win, delivering as the public’s overwhelming choice in the contest.

Dee Leftwich photo

Ellamennopee was a 1:56.2 winner with driver Steve Wiseman.

This sharp freshman distaffer is by Voracious Hanover and she proved that her dominating win against the boys last week was anything but a fluke. Driver Steve Wiseman guided her away from the gate in sixth position of nine fillies in the field and got her moving first-over at the three-eighths pole. She advanced steadily down the backstretch and took command before the final turn.

From there she remained strong and posted a 2-3/4 length tally in a 1:56.2 lifetime mark. Bertha Vanation (Dean Magee) was very impressive in second and Lippy Doo (Luke Plano) was home in third but well back of the winner. Ellamennopee is owned by Merlin Van Oterloo and trained by Brett Ballinger. She now shows two wins and one second in three lifetime starts.

The $10,000 Open Handicap Trot proved to be yet another edition of the Banker Volo show, as the amazing 8-year-old trotting stallion by Yankee Glide posted his biggest win ever, a 16-1/2 length romp compliments of some fast early fractions by his rivals. Driver Luke Plano guided Banker Volo away in third from post one, while two of his rivals exchanged blows through early panels of :27.1 and :56.2 before he guided his square-gaited sensation to the outside and straight to the front.

From there were only two questions, how fast and by how many lengths would he win. He stopped the clock in 1:54.2 to equal his all-age track record. It was clear he could have gone as much as a second faster had he any competition in the late stages of the mile. Banker Volo ($2.20) has now won six of eight races this year and bankrolled $33,700 for owner Daniel Roland. His career numbers are now 27 wins and $319,213 after this dominating victory.

The $10,000 Mares Open Pace went to Gold Star Mysti ($4.40) as she delivered as the race favorite once again for her fifth win in seven starts this season. “Mysti-Moo” as she is affectionately called by her connections, rallied from off the pace with a first over move that allowed trainer/driver James (J.D.) Yoder to drop in the pocket for a breather past the five-eighths pole, and from there they were able to out-kick a very game front running Best Of Jenna (Rick Magee) to the wire in 1:51.1. The super talented 4-year-old is by Mysticism and is owned by Marianne Audley, who is also the breeder.

The $13,000 Minnesota-Sired 2-year-old trot went to Bragginade ($4.80) for his second win in three lifetime starts, with trainer Nick Roland in the sulky for Set The Pace Racing, LLC. This victory was a 1-3/4 length tally in 2:03.4.

Drivers Tim Maier, James Yoder, Rick Magee and Dean Magee all completed driving doubles on the Tuesday card.

Live racing returns to Running Aces on Saturday night (July 29) with a first post of 6 p.m. (CDT) and a carryover in the 20-cent Jackpot Pick-5 wager of $17,404.11.