Columbus, MN – The Tuesday night (July 14) harness racing program at Running Aces featured the weekly top Open Handicap pace as well as six divisions of Minnesota-sired trotters and pacers.
In the $16,000 Open, it was all about Alta Revelry N and driver Luke Plano, as they made it two in a row with a sharp gate-to-wire score by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:50.2 over Dandy’s Freedom with Speaking Volumes rounding out the top three.
Alta Revelry N (by Sunshine Beach) was never in doubt en route to his 33rd career win. The talented 8-year-old gelding is owned by J M F Racing and is trained by Plano. He paid $2.60 as the heavy favorite.
Big Keliane (by Big Oil) advanced to four-for-four lifetime after a big gate-to-wire effort in a career best 2:03 in the $17,500 freshman filly trot over Spiceitupwithoil and Firebird Photo. Nick Roland was the winning driver for trainer Justin Anfinson. The win mutuel was $2.20.
Turbo Tinker (also by Big Oil) posted a career best effort in 2:03.2 to capture the $17,500 freshman male trot division by two lengths over Wishingiwasfishing and Easiersaidwithrum. Casey Leonard drove the $3 winner for trainer Anfinson.
Slipped Onmybeans (by Captainryanmichael) added her fourth career win in just five outings with an impressive 1:55.4 career best mile over Hurricane Shores and Lady Gulf in the $16,000 fillies ‘A’ pace. Dean Magee was the winning pilot for owner/trainer Scott Banitt. She returned $2.40.
Bombi (Three Of Clubs) was a very sharp winner in the male ‘A’ pace division in 1:55.2 with Mooney Svendsen in the bike for owner/trainer Mark Anderson. Captain Ricky rallied late for second and Goodly was third best. Bombi returned $9.40 on top.
The other freshman pacing winners included Fancy Cruiser (by Fancy Schmancy) with Dean Magee in 1:56 who paid $5.80, and Barry The Hacker (by Three Of Clubs) with Casey Leonard in 1:58.2, paying $4 to win.
Drivers Dean Magee, Casey Leonard and Luke Plano all posted doubles, while Justin Anfinson, Scott Banitt and Plano also posted training doubles.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday night (July 16) for a 10-race program that gets underway at 6 p.m. (CDT).