Columbus, MN –The top-level pacers put on quite a show at Running Aces on Tuesday night (June 23) in the $16,000 Open Handicap, which boasted a full field of nine contenders.
Cash Money Twenty was in search of his fourth straight win and was the heavy public choice at 1-5 from post nine while last week’s winner Alta Revelry N got plenty of support at 3-1 from post eight and the rest of the field was dismissed at 12-1 or higher.
Trainer/driver Luke Plano sent Alta Revelry N into immediate action to battle early with Speaking Volumes (Rick Magee) and take the top while War Machine (Lemoyne Svendsen) left alertly from the rail to secure the third position during the :27.1 opening panel with Kurt Longjohn (Josiah Miller) caught on the outside.
Plano stole a :29.1 breather in the second panel with Alta Revelry N and Cash Money Twenty tipped into the outer flow and briefly followed cover behind Kurt Longjohn who failed to make much of an impression on the leaders, forcing Cash Money Twenty to make a three-wide move down the backside with about seven lengths to make up on the leader.
As they rounded past the three-quarters in 1:24.1, Alta Revelry N still had a comfortable lead over Speaking Volumes with Cash Money Twenty now third and looming on the outside.
Alta revelry N turned for home with two lengths to spare over cash Money Twenty but that lead began to diminish with every stride toward the finish line as Cash Money Twenty continued surging to create a thrilling tooth and nail battle to the wire that produced a very tight photo finish.
When the dust cleared, it was Cash Money Twenty who had gotten up by the smallest possible margin in the final stride for the victory over Alta Revelry N with Speaking Volumes holding third in the 1:51.3 mile.
Cash Money Twenty (Stevensville) is owned by Heart & Soul Racing and is trained by Brett Ballinger. He now shows 24 career wins from 31 outings with earnings of $356,750.
Sneaky Hill (Racing Hill) dominated the $12,750 Open II Handicap pace with an impressive gate-to-wire performance in 1:51.2 for two wins in a row, he was 1-3/4 lengths better than Gandalf (Nick Roland) with Tankalicious (Plano) home in third. Brady Jenson is the winning owner/trainer/driver on Sneaky Hill ($8.40).
There were four freshman Minnesota-sired events on the program on Tuesday night.
Goodly (Gulf Shores) captured top honors in the $17,000 boys ‘A’ division of pacers in 158.3 over Hammerin Harlan and He Sells Seashells. Luke Plano was the winning driver on the $33.40 winner for owner Gretchen Smith and trainer Alexia Kehl.
Slipped Onmybeans (Captainryanmichael, $2.10) delivered as the overwhelming favorite in the $17,000 filly pace in 1:58, winning by 7-1/4 lengths over Hurricane Shores and Stormy Shores with Dean Magee in the bike for owner/trainer Scott Banitt.
Well I Didn’t Know (Gulf Shores, $7.80) was an impressive gate-to-wire winner in the $8,500 male ‘B’ split in 1:58.4 over Bombi and Captain Ricky. Plano was the winning pilot for owner Jeff Fought Racing and trainer Brady Jenson.
Big Keliane (Big Oil) rallied from fourth in the lane to capture the $21,000 freshman trot event by 2-3/4 lengths in 2:04 over Turbo Tinker and Wishingiwasfishing. Nick Roland was the winning pilot for owners Jay De Long, Ken Stauffer, Stephanie Anfinson and Craig Banks and trainer Justin Anfinson. The win mutuel was $43.40.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday night (June 25) for a 10-race program that will feature a carryover of $21,913.44 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager, which will get underway in race six. Post time is set for 6 p.m. (CDT).