Columbus, MN – Trotters were in the spotlight at Running Aces on Sunday night (Aug. 24) with the weekly $15,500 Open Handicap as well as the Minnesota-sired sophomore trotters going for $35,000 across two divisions.
This week’s Open saw a talented field of seven head into battle with Baby Flash getting the most pari-mutuel attention to go off as the 3-2 favorite while Escaper was a close second in the wagering at 8-5.
Bringoverthemoney (Dean Magee) was the fastest off the mark to take the early lead while Escaper (Billy Mann) left quickly as well to challenge for the front and Baby Flash (Mooney Svendsen) also got away quickly to secure a spot in third.
Bringoverthemoney had the call at the :27.4 quarter but Escaper surged past to take control near the three-eighths marker and was well settled on top at the :58.1 half mile checkpoint.
Double A Goldrush (Luke Plano) launched an attack down the backside and Chiplosive (Williams Hernandez) picked up the cover and the field began to stack up as they headed into the final turn.
Escaper still had control as they posted three-panels in 1:27.1 and led the field into the lane while Baby Flash shook free from a ground-saving trip to come after the leader and Chiplosive tipped off cover for a stretch rally.
Inside the final sixteenth, Baby Flash ($5) surged strongly down the center of the track to take the lead and edge past Escaper by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.4 while Chiplosive out finished Bringoverthemoney for third.
The winner is a 4-year-old daughter of Southwind Flash and is owned by trainer Rick Huffman in partnership with Keith Wilson and Brenda Lovetinsky. She now shows four wins on the season and 23 career wins with total earnings of $187,267.
\Peanutbutterfalcon (Rick Magee, $4) registered his seventh straight win with a 1-3/4 length tally in the $17,500 colts & geldings trot in 1:58.3 to advance to nine wins and a second from 10 starts this season.
Magee was content to float away in third while Mr Boombastic and Braggen Bliss went to the front. Peanutbutterfalcon got rolling as they headed around the final turn and took control as they straightened for home while Braggen Bliss finished second best and Tutti Frutti Rudy rallied late for third.
The winner is a son of Quality Kemp and is owned by his breeder Jeri Roland and trained by Dan Roland.
It’s Gonna Be Mae (Sean Smithpeters, $15.60) was a very sharp winner in the $17,500 filly trot, getting away in third and then making an impressive move to the top as they rounded the final turn and drawing away to win by five lengths in 1:59.2 over Flora Cash and SHS Southern Pride.
The winner is a daughter of Lear Jetta and is owned and trained by her breeder Alexia Kehl.
Mooney Svendsen led the Sunday program with three driving wins, while both Rick Magee and Brady Jenson scored doubles on the card.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday night (Aug. 26) with first post at 7 p.m. (CDT).