Columbus, MN – Alilthundadownunda stole the show at Running Aces on Tuesday night (Sept. 2) with a sharp first-over performance to capture the $17,000 Open Handicap pace for his 46th career win while surpassing the $500k plateau in career earnings.
Brian Detgen was in the bike behind the 7-year-old son of Malak Uswaad N and opted to float away in fifth position early from post two while I’m A Skoldier (Luke Plano), PD The Big Easy (Brandon Jenson), and Speaking Volumes (Rick Magee) battled furiously for the top positions through a fast :26.4 opening panel.
After being caught three-wide throughout the first quarter, Speaking Volumes landed on top and posted the middle fractions in :56.1 and 1:24.2 with PD The Big Easy tracking closely in the pocket.
Detgen got rolling with Aliulthundadownunda as they headed for the far turn and Mac’s Marvel (Williams Hernandez) chased his cover,
Speaking Volumes led into the lane but was under siege from all sides with PD The Big Easy looming inside and Alilthundadownunda charging outside.
It was a thrilling battle to the wire, which resulted in Alilthundadownunda ($23.40) surging by to capture victory by a half-length in 1:52.4 while Speaking Volumes held second over PD The Big Easy.
The winner is owned by his breeder Set The Pace Racing and is trained by Nick Roland.
Wild About Me (Wind Me Up) posted a new career mark to capture the $15,000 Minnesota-sired freshman colts ‘A’ pace in 1:54.4 over stablemate Luke Skyrocker and Set Free.
Brady Jenson was the winning pilot and worked out a perfect trip for Wild About Me ($3.20) who rode the pocket into deep stretch and surged inside late to draw away by two lengths.
The winner is a half brother to Alilthundadownunda as both are out of the mare Wild About Eagle (The Panderosa) and is also owned by Set The Pace Racing and trained by Roland.
SV Rough And Tough (Dean Magee, $4.20) made an early move to the top and never looked back en-route to his fifth win from 11 career starts, stopping the timer in a career best 2:00.3 over HM Magical Money and My Little Maverick in the $17,500 colts and geldings trot.
The winner is a son of Tom Ridge and is owned by Larry Mather and trained by Jason Telfer.
Starstruck Fool (Scott Cisco, $7.40) posted her sixth career win with a gate-to-wire effort by just over two lengths in 1:57.3 in the fillies ‘A’ pace for owners Jeri and Briar Roland and trainer Lino Pacheco.
The other freshman winners included SV Shining Star (Rick Magee, $23.40) in 2:02.2, Im Easy Peasy (Billy Mann, $2.40) in 1:59.1 and Letitia (Dean Magee, $5.20) in 1:59.4.
Drivers Brady Jenson and Dean Magee each posted doubles while Jenson and Nick Roland both had training doubles on the program.
Live racing action returns to Running Aces on Thursday night (Sept. 4) with an 11-race program that will get underway at 6 p.m. (CDT).