by Peter Galassi, for Running Aces
Columbus, MN — Realbadcombination a 5-year-old pacer, started three times in the month of June at Running Aces Harness Park and finished fourth, sixth and seventh, respectively.
It was shortly after the third start that trainer Dan Poprawski was jogging the altered son of Astreos when he switched to trotting and “was going pretty well.”
“He not only felt good on the trot, his disposition seemed to change dramatically,” said Poprawski. So after a couple of more training miles on the trot and a qualifier in 2:05, the Cicero, Illinois native decided to enter Realbadcombination in a non-winners of one trot on Friday, July 3. Starting from post four, Realbadcombination powered three wide down the lane to draw off and win by five lengths in 2:04.1.
After the debut win on the trot, Realbadcombination came right back the following week with another come from behind win, this time by a nose in 2:04.1.
Realbadcombination, who has a pacing mark of 1:53.1 set last year at The Meadowlands, started for the third time on the trot on July 17. Starting from post eight, Realbadcombination came away eighth in the field of nine. After being impeded past the half, Poprawski moved his new found gem three wide for much of the final three-eighths of the mile, took the lead in deep stretch and drew off to win in a new mark on the trot of 2:04.
Realbadcombination is scheduled to make his next start on Saturday, July 25, at the Columbus, Minnesota five-eighths-mile oval.
What’s on tap after that?
“I have toyed with the idea of racing him on the trot one night, then on the pace a few nights later,” said Poprawski, “or perhaps heading to a county fair to try and win an aged trot and an aged pace with the same horse on the same day.”
Wherever Realbadcombination races after Running Aces, it’s been a “real good combination” for horse and trainer.
On Sunday, July 19, Lucky Redneck became the fastest trotter in the history of Running Aces when the 5-year-old gelding trotted to a 1:58.1 winning mile. Driven and trained by Nick Roland for owner Kevin Nanke, Lucky Redneck eclipsed the mark of 1:58.2
previously held by the trio of Photo Dream, D W’s Perky Joe and Captain Korki, the latter two being defeated by Lucky Redneck in the Sunday co-feature.
Running Aces Harness Park, located in Columbus, Minnesota, races every Friday, Saturday and Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. (CDT) with Sunday racing beginning at 4:00 p.m., through August 9.