by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces

Columbus, MN — The Tuesday night (Sept. 4) program at Running Aces played host to the $14,000 Minnesota-Sired Trot event, with a full field of nine contenders.

Dee Leftwich photo

Dewey’s Machine was a 2:00.3 winner on the sloppy track.

MD Magic (Dean Magee) was looking for his sixth straight win in this division and was sent off as the 4-5 choice. Dewey’s Machine (Steve Wiseman) had been runner-up five times so far this season and was heavily backed as well at 8-5.

Z Machine (James Yoder) was fastest off the gate and led the field through the early quarter in :29.1 before MD Magic cleared from post nine and controlled the fractions through the middle stages. MD Magic was holding sway past the half in 1:00 and three-quarters in 1:30.3, but Dewey’s Machine had advanced from fourth to drop into the pocket around the final turn.

As they rounded for home, Dewey’s Machine was ready to engage the leader and the result was a thrilling stretch battle between the top pair of 2-year-old trotters this season, with Dewey’s Machine getting up in the final strides to take the victory by three-quarters of a length in 2:00.3 on the sloppy track.

The victory was win number three in nine career starts for the gelded son of Ice Machine, out of the Deweycheatumnhowe mare Dewey’s Splendour. Dewey’s Machine ($5.40) is owned and trained by Justin Anfinson.

Gold Star Mysti posted another dominating performance at Running Aces with a gate-to-wire win in the $11,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace.

From post five, Gold Star Mysti (James Yoder) fired fastest of all to establish command, with Kiss On The Lips (Dean Magee) also leaving sharply from post six to secure the pocket and Totally Racy (Steve Wiseman) away sharply as well to sit just off the pace in third. The lineup remained the same through fractions of :27.2, :57.2, and 1:26.2 before Totally Racy launched a rally to the outside from third, but Gold Star Mysti ($2.60) had plenty in the tank and kicked home in :28 for a two length score over Totally Racy and Kiss On The Lips in 1:54.2.

The victory on Tuesday was win number six on the season in 12 starts for the 5-year-old daughter of Mysticism, owned by Gold Star Farm and trained by Maggie Audley.

Trinitysfancyfilly (Brian Detgen) took top honors in the $8,500 Minnesota-Sired 2-year-old filly pace for her first lifetime win. The daughter of Fancy Schmancy was impressive with a sharp wire-to-wire win in 2:00. Trinitysfancyfilly ($2.80) is owned by Sarah Solheid and trainer/driver Brian Detgen.

Burning Blaze (Steve Wiseman) turned in another dominating win in the $8,500 Minnesota-Sired 2-year-old male pace leading right from the word go and the outcome was never in doubt in a sharp 1:56.4 mile on the sloppy surface for his sixth career win in eight starts for owners Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte and Edward Gutin. Burning Blaze ($2.10) is trained by Justin Anfinson.

Driver Steve Wiseman led the program with four wins, while Rick Magee turned in a hat trick and Lemoyne Svendsen completed a double on the Tuesday card.

Live racing returns to Running Aces this Saturday night (Sept. 8) with first post at 6 p.m. (CDT) and two carryovers. The 20-cent Jackpot Pick-5 carryover is $35,189.98 and the 50 cent Hi-5 carryover is $2,255,52.