by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces Casino & Racetrack

Columbus, MN — The Sunday night (May 28) Running Aces harness racing card featured the $12,000 Open Handicap Pace with a talented field of nine squaring off, and it was Allmyx’sliventexas who stole the show.

Dee Leftwich photo

Allmyx’sliventexas was a 1:51.4 winner.

Driven confidently by Mooney Svendsen for trainer Bob Johnson, the duo posted a sharp front-running score in 1:51.4, just one tick off the track record for 4-year-old pacing geldings.

Sent hard from post six, the impressive son of Hi Ho Silverheel’s battled to clear the lead past the opening quarter (:26.4), then repelled a strong challenge from race favorite S F Donttellonme (Joe Casagranda) through the middle fractions of the race (:55.4, 1:22.3) and had enough left in the tank to hold the rest of the field at bay and pick up his sixth win in 16 starts this year. Easy Again (Rick Magee) picked up second, with S F Donttellonme home in third.

With Sunday night’s triumph Allmyx’sliventexas expanded his seasonal bankroll to $28,778 for owners Wayne and Rodney Knittel.

The $10,000 Open Trot was also part of the Sunday card, and it would be the return of Banker Volo to the Running Aces winner’s circle, a familiar place for this talented 8-year-old stallion by Yankee Glide who was runner-up in this event last week and was making just his second start of the year.

Driver Luke Plano guided Banker Volo out to an easy lead from post five and was never in doubt, controlling the affair and strolling through moderate fractions of :28.2, :58.4 and 1:27.1 before coasting home in :29.3 to hold off Leave Your Mark (Nick Roland) by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.4. Banker Volo is owned by Daniel Roland and trained by Jenni King.

The $13,000 Minnesota-sired 3-year-old trotters also squared off, with a full gate of 10 contestants. Imapixieatmidnight (Nick Roland) set all the fractions in the affair, but was gunned down late by pocket-sitter Al Mar Foxyeclipse (Joe Casagranda), with Al Mar Money Glide (Tim Maier) home in third in the 2:02.1 mile.

Sunday night’s win was the third lifetime tally for Al Mar Foxyeclipse in 18 starts, and boosted his bankroll to $22,910 for owner Mark Holtan with Joel Mc Danel doing the conditioning.

Drivers Nick Roland, Steve Wiseman, and Mooney Svendsen all picked up driving doubles on the program.

Live racing returns to Running Aces this coming Tuesday (May 30) with a first post of 7 p.m. (CDT).