by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces

Columbus, MN — One of the featured events on the Tuesday evening (Aug. 14) program at Running Aces was the $10,200 Minnesota-Sired 2-year-old pace Class “A” and it was billed as yet another matchup of the two dominant freshman pacers of the season, Burning Blaze and Windmeupnwatchmego.

The former was sent off as the public choice at 4-5, while the latter was also heavily backed at 6-5. Despite the outside eight-post Windmeupnwatchmego (Dean Magee) was fastest of all from the gate and was able to cross and clear in front of Burning Blaze (Rick Magee) who left quickly from post two.

They settled into those positions after a quick :27.3 quarter and positions remained status quo for seven-eighths of the mile, through a very moderate middle half (:57 and 1:27) until Burning Blaze powered from the pocket in the lane and was able to sweep by in the final 50 yards to secure a three-quarter length victory in 1:55.2 as they sprinted home in :28.1.

The victory was win number three in five starts for Burning Blaze, who had just missed by a neck last out and was second by a length two starts back in what was a track record 1:54.1 mile for the filly Windmeupnwatchmego. Burning Blaze ($3.80) is a gelding by Wind Me Up, and is owned by Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte and Edward Gutin and trained by Justin Anfinson.

MD Magic (Dean Magee) picked up his third win in a row in the $14,000 3-year-old Minnesota-Sired Trot, converting a pocket trip to sweep by front-runner Dewey’s Machine (Steve Wiseman) in the homestretch and post a new lifetime mark by 1-3/4 lengths in 2:00.4. MD Magic ($5.00), a son of Braggart, now has four wins in five lifetime starts and has earned $28,300 for owners Set The Pace Racing and trainer Nick Roland.

Gold Star Mysti (James Yoder) delivered another sharp winning performance as the heavy 1-5 choice in the $11,000 Mares Open Pace event, for two wins in a row.

Kiss On The Lips (Dean Magee) had the early lead after sprinting away from post two, and Gold Star Mysti was parked and pressing on past the :28.2 quarter, before establishing the lead at the three-eighths pole. From there Gold Star Mysti was never in doubt, keeping her rivals at bay the rest of the way and arriving home 1-1/4 lengths ahead of Kiss On The Lips and a fast closing Whatitdo Babyboo in 1:53.4 for her second straight win. She is owned by Gold Star Farm and trained by Margaret Audley.

Live racing continues three nights a week at Running Aces, with post times at 6 p.m. (CDT) on Saturdays and Sundays, and 7 p.m. on Tuesdays. This Saturday night (Aug. 18) will feature a carryover of $17,563.27 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager.