Columbus, MN – The Thursday night (July 2) harness racing program at Running Aces featured two divisions of the Minnesota-sired sophomore pacers going for $17,500 each, as well as the weekly $16,000 Mares Open Handicap pace.
Cool Mr Cool got away second in the event for 3-year-old male pacers behind last weeck’s winner Wild About Me (driven by Nick Roland) before driver Casey Leonard made a move to the top just after the :27.2 opening quarter. Once settled on the lead, Cool Mr Cool was never in doubt, posting middle fractions of :57 and 1:26 before turning in a :27.2 final panel to seal the deal and check home 2 lengths better than Wild About Me with CL Dancer rallying late for third.
The winner, a son of Wind Me Up, is owned by Kyle Larner, Jay DeLong and Terry Knothe and is trained by Justin Anfinson. The 1:53.2 mile was a new career mark for Cool Mr Cool and his fourth career win. The win mutuel was $2.40.
Thiskidcanfly (Nick Roland) lived up to her name in the filly pace, posting a big late rally from fifth at the top of the lane to grab her first win of the season and pull the upset at 15-1 while big longshot Norabelle (Josiah Miller, 69-1) rallied for second and early leader Prone To Wander (Rick Magee) checked home in third in the 1:55.2 mile.
It was a career best effort for Thiskidcanfly ($32.60), a daughter of Karpathian Kid, for owner Van Otterloo Stables and trainer Bob Lems.
Premier Desirey added another sharp win to her impressive resume in the Mares Open, going to the front early from post 7 for driver Luke Plano, leading comfortably throughout and then drawing away from her rivals late for a 4-1/2-length tally in 1:52.1. Mother Mary (Rick Magee) rallied late for second over Heart Song (Mooney Svendsen).
It was the fifth win of the season and 21st career win for Premier Desirey ($2.80), a daughter of Real Desire, for owner/trainer Harold Herrera.
Drivers Nick Roland, Casey Leonard and Dean Magee and trainers Bob Lems and Harold Herrera all had doubles on the program.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday night (July 5) for an Independence Weekend Celebration program with 10 races starting at 6 p.m. (CDT). There will be a Slap Coozie giveaway along with “Pepsi Family Night” specials and kids activities, trout fishing, food trucks and the weekly “Sole Survivor” handicapping contest.