Columbus, MN – The feature race on Sunday night (Aug. 16) at Running Aces was the $35,000 Steve Wiseman Memorial Trot, which went to post with a very talented field of seven contenders, all trying for the coveted Wiseman trophy, blanket and winner’s purse.
Fifty Rivers, with driver Casey Leonard, was sent off as the even-money favorite from post 4. Inferno DK, driven by Brady Jenson, also was heavily supported at 7-5 from post 3 and Peanutbutterfalcon, with Scott Cisco, rounded out the top picks on the board at 7-1 from post 5. The 2024 Wiseman champion, All Champy with driver Nick Roland, were largely dismissed at 18-1 odds from post 6.
When the starter said “go” there was a mad scramble for the front between Peanutbutterfalcon, Inferno DK and Fifty Rivers that resulted in a scorching :26.2 opening quarter. Fifty Rivers made the front but had to work hard to get there while Inferno DK was relegated to the pocket, and after getting the first call Peanutbutterfalcon wound up traveling in third. Roland and All Champy also left alertly to secure the fourth position.
Fifty Rivers led comfortably during the middle half while posting fractions of :55.3 and 1:25 and All Champy tipped out to come first-over while both Chapolier and Lexus Markus tried bids from the back of the pack as the field bunched up around the far turn.
The early fractions were catching up with Fifty Rivers as they straightened for the stretch battle, with All Champy gaining ground with every stride in the center of the track and Inferno DK closing on the inside.
All Champy forged to the lead in the shadow of the wire and Inferno DK was lunging inside but All Champy surged strongest in the final strides to score a three-quarters of a length victory in 1:54.3 for his 52nd career win while Inferno DK completed the exacta and Peanutbutterfalcon rallied late to pass Fifty Rivers and grab the show dough.
This is the third straight year that All Champy has crossed the wire first in the Wiseman Memorial final but in 2025 he made a miscue near the wire and was placed second.
The $38.80 winner is a classy 12-year-old veteran by Explosive Matter who increased his career earnings to $745,526.
All Champy is owned by Stephen Chambers and is trained by Kathie Plested.
Model Good Looks, by Southwind Cobra, and driver/trainer Brady Jenson made it two in a row in the $17,500 Minnesota-sired sophomore filly trot with a scintillating 9-3/4 length score in 1:57.4 over SV Shining Star and The Big Bomb. The $7.20 winner is owned by Larry Jenson and Ken Stauffer.
My Little Maverick, by Maverick, posted a new career mark with a 1:57.4 tally by a head over Bang Bang Boogie with Wisco Moni Heist a close third in the $17,500 male trot for owners Aimes Racing and Connie Oke and trainer Elvin Zimmerman. Casey Leonard drove the $9.60 winner.
Casey Leonard and Brady Jenson both drove three winners on the card while Nick Roland and Rick Magee each recorded doubles and Jenson also scored a training double.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday night (Aug. 18) for a nine-race program that gets underway at 7 p.m. (CDT).