by Darin Gagne, Running Aces Track Announcer

Columbus, MN — The Sunday (July 2) harness racing card at Running Aces featured a career milestone for both horse and driver, as 21-year-old Brady Jenson steered his trainee Mac Anover to victory in the $3,500 maiden pace.

Dee Leftwich photo

Brady Jensen and Mac Anover score their first pari-mutuel win together at Running Aces on Sunday.

The victory marked the first lifetime pari-mutuel win for both horse and driver. Jenson is from a big harness racing family based in Iowa, and has been training horses here at Running Aces for the past two seasons. Although he has had numerous training victories and has driven winners at the fairs, Jensen had not yet picked up a pari-mutuel win.

Jensen sent his charge sharply from the gate from post one to secure the pocket position behind the race favorite No Regrets Ivy (James Yoder) and waited patiently in that spot until the top of the homestretch before launching a strong attack and powering past the leader to score a sharp 1-3/4 length tally, going away in an impressive mile in 1:54.4.

Mac Anover ($12.80) is a 3-year-old gelding by Mcardle and is owned by Larry Jo Jenson.

V Mack posted another impressive gate-to-wire win to make it four in-a-row with driver Luke Plano in the sulky for owner/trainer George Reider in a $6,000 claiming pace. V Mack ($3.80) was heavily favored in tonight’s contest, and did not disappoint his backers with another dominating score from post eight. He now shows six wins in 22 startsand $18,812 this season

Becky Badger Baby ($8.00) picked up her second seasonal score and 24th lifetime win tonight in a $4,600 conditioned trot. Trainer/driver Nick Roland was patient as usual with the 5-year-old mare by Rail Splitter and settled her away from the gate last of six. He was waiting for the perfect time to launch a rally and stormed down the center of the track in the lane to split rivals. He then drew away to the wire by two lengths in a new lifetime mark of 1:57.3 for owners Dale Hein and Royal and Barbara Roland.

Drivers Nick Roland, James Yoder and Luke Plano all picked up driving doubles on the Sunday card.

Driver William Hernandez posted his first Minnesota driving victory this evening with PoorLittleRichGirl ($38.60) in 1:54.3, in a $4,000 conditioned pace. It was the first win of the season for the 9-year-old mare by Little Steven, owned by Maria Alvarez and also trained by Hernandez.

The next card of live harness racing at Running Aces Casino & Racetrack will go to post on Monday night (July 3) at 5 p.m. CDT, a special holiday program of racing, with a carryover in the 20-cent Jackpot Pick-5 wager of $3,963.99 and a carryover for the race 11 Hi-5 wager of $4,468.35.