by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces

Columbus, MN — Driver Jesse Yoder, 20, picked up his first pari-mutuel win on Sunday night (Aug. 5) at Running Aces, steering longshot Fox Valley Ruby ($33.60) to her second win in 28 starts this season.

Jesse Yoder is the younger brother of James (J.D.) Yoder, who is in his second season as a full-time driver at the Minnesota track.

Jesse picked up his first race win just one month ago at the Cannon Falls, Minn., Fair on July 4. He has just recently started his pari-mutuel driving career and he found the winner’s circle in just his 26th trip to the gate.

Dee Leftwich photo

Jesse Yoder guided Fox Valley Ruby to victory for his first career pari-mutuel win.

His path to victory lane came with a patient drive on Fox Valley Ruby, getting her away in good order from post one to be a close third throughout, and saving ground every inch of the mile, finding room in the passing lane and surging right at the wire to get a nose in front in 1:56.

Fox Valley Ruby is an 8-year-old pacing mare by Sportsmaster, and she is co-owned by Judith Schneiderman and also co-owned and trained by Lloyd Schneiderman.

Place At The Beach (Dean Magee) picked up another sharp win on Sunday, for her third straight victory and sixth win in her last seven starts, as she held on by a neck at the wire in 1:54.1 in the $9,000 mares claiming Handicap pace.

Dean Magee sent her away quickly from post six in the seven-horse affair, and she easily established control, posting solid fractions of :27.3, :57.3 and 1:25.3 while saving just enough in the tank to hold off a furious late charge from Cenalta Diamond (Lemoyne Svendsen).

Place At The Beach ($6.80) is an 8-year-old Minnesota-sired mare by Place To Be. She is owned by Peg Hoffman and trained by Gerald Longo. She now has 10 wins in 29 starts this season and seasonal earnings of $37,792.

Dean Magee led the Sunday program with three driving wins, while James (J.D.) Yoder picked up a driving double.

Live racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday night (Aug. 7) with first post at 7 p.m. (CDT) and a carryover in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager of $9,701.63.