Columbus, MN – The track was lightning fast and the action was exciting at Running Aces on Tuesday night (June 9) and Cash Money Twenty posted another big performance in the $15,000 featured Open Handicap pace for his third win in a row.
The talented son of Stevensville and his pilot Casey Leonard wasted no time to get involved as they powered away from the gate from post five to take on Speaking Volumes (Rick Magee), who was the fastest off the mark. Those two traded blows during the :26.4 opening stanza with Cash Money Twenty clearing to the lead well before the three-eighths marker.
Alta Revelry N (Nick Roland) got away in third and tracked the leaders intently through the middle stages in :54.4 and 1:22.4 with Chevron Art N (Josiah Miller) trying a first-over bid down the backside.
There was never an anxious moment for Cash Money Twenty ($2.40) who continued to pace strongly during the final eighth of a mile and drew clear in the final strides for a 2-3/4 length tally in 1:50.3 with Speaking Volumes clearly second best and Tankalicious (Luke Plano) rallying late to pick up third.
The winner is owned by Heart & Soul Racing and is trained by Brett Ballinger. He now shows 23 career wins from just 30 starts with earnings of $348,750.
War Machine (Sweet Lou) captured the $11,000 top conditioned event on the program with a sharp gate-to-wire score in 1:52.3 over Racing Ripper (Roland) and No Lou Zing (Brady Jenson).
It was also two in a row for War Machine and his fifth tally of the season, he is also owned by Heart & Soul Racing in partnership with Jim Ballinger and is trained by Brett Ballinger. The win mutuel was $5.40.
Drivers Casey Leonard and Nick Roland led the program with three wins each while Leonard, Ballinger and Brady Jenson all had training doubles.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday night (June 11) for a -ninerace program that will feature the $15,000 Mares Open Handicap pace as well as the $12,500 Burning Blaze pacing series final.
On the wagering side, there is a carryover of $12,147.07 in the Pick-5 Jackpot, which will get underway in race five. Post time is set for 6 p.m. (CDT).