Columbus, MN — The top-level pacing mares were in the spotlight at Running Aces on Thursday night (Aug. 31) in the $17,600 Open Handicap which drew a field of nine talented distaffers.

Scorecard Dandy (Jacob Cutting) was the talk of the toteboard and was sent off as the 4-5 favorite from post eight and she wasted no time in making her presence felt, surging from the gate to challenge for the lead near the quarter and taking over from Crazy Cute (Mooney Svendsen) just before the :27.2 fraction flashed up.

Ain’t She Special drew clear of her rivals for a 2-1/4 length tally. Kathleen Riley photo.

Disaronno Hill and driver Brady Jenson also made a bold early move from post nine and they swept to the front near the three-eighths marker and commanded the contest through middle fractions of :56.2 and 1:25.1. Ain’t She Special and driver Luke Plano launched a first-over bid down the backside and gradually worked toward the leaders while Southwind Molly and Rockin With Lou both tried the outer flow.

Turning for home Ain’t She Special ($33.80) began to get the upper hand on the top pair and proceeded to pace strong through the lane to draw clear of her rivals for a 2-1/4 length tally while Scorecard Dandy just nosed out Disaronno Hill for second and Lucky Lil Lady (Kevin Wallis) flew home from the back to get fourth money.

The winner is a 4-year-old daughter of American Ideal, owned by Dave Haness and also owned and trained by Plano.

Give Me This Dance (Todd Warren, $3.00) delivered a big performance as the favorite in the $15,000 Minnesota-sired older pacing mares event, registering a one length victory in 1:54.3 for her seventh win of the season. She exploded from the pocket in the lane to draw clear for the win over Wish I Had Thyme (Gerald Longo) and Kitty Wampus (Dean Magee).

The winner is a 4-year-old by Wind Me Up and is owned by her breeders Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte and is trained by Justin Anfinson.

Fast Larry (Brady Jenson, $3.40) proved fastest of all in the $17,000 Minnesota-sired freshman male ‘A’ pace for his second straight win, converting a pocket trip into a 1-1/2 length tally over El Parrandero Q (Cutting) and Celebrity Status (James Kennedy) in 1:56.4. The winner, who has just three career starts so far, is by Art’s Chip and is owned by Gary Carlson and is also trained by Jenson.

Semicolon (Plano, $4.20) was an impressive winner in the $10,500 freshman ‘B’ pace in 1:58.1 for a new career mark. He took command just past the quarter-mile and held gamely against a fast-closing All Star Wonder (Dean Magee) with longshot Zee Kid (Sean Smithpeters) getting home third. The winner is a son of Aracache Hanover and is owned by his breeder Rick Davelaar and trained by Williams Hernandez.

Apple Juice (Cutting, $3.80) added another impressive win to her resume in the $17,000 freshman filly ‘A’ pace in 1:55.4 over Deja Vu Babyboo and Moonlit Night. The impressive daughter of Fancy Schmancy now shows seven wins from 11 career races, and has banked $66,367 for owner/trainer/breeder Scott Banitt.

Drivers Luke Plano and Brady Jenson and trainer Williams Hernandez all led the Thursday program with two wins each.

Live racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday night (Sept. 3) for a Labor Day weekend celebration featuring the ‘Herps Alive’ Interactive Reptile Display with ‘The Handicapping Herpetologist’ Keith Gisser.

Sunday is also Pepsi Family Night with specials, food trucks and other kid’s activities. Specials start at 6 p.m. and first post is at 7 p.m. (CDT).