Columbus, MN — The $17,000 Minnesota-sired sophomore male trot led off the abbreviated program on Sunday (July 28) at Running Aces and DP Freedoms Chrome and driver James Gould each posted career milestones while capturing victory in the event by 3-1/4 lengths.
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Gould wasted no time in sending the star son of For You Almostfree out to pursue the front of the affair from the outside post in the eight horse field, and they had to work a bit to clear Wherever Rio Goes (Sean Smithpeters) and establish command just past the :28.1 quarter. Once on top DP Freedoms Chrome led comfortably while Wherever Rio Goes tracked in the pocket and Banker’s Quest (Mooney Svendsen) traveled in third as the fractions remained solid (:56.4 and 1:25.4).
In the homestretch DP Freedoms Chrome ($2.10) easily kept to his task and drew clear impressively to record his 16th win from 17 career starts, stopping the timer in 1:56.1 for a new lifetime record while Wherever Rio Goes was a clear second and Last Of Braggert (Jacob Cutting) checked in third.
It was also career driving win number 100 for 21-year-old James Gould, who is one of the youngest drivers currently competing at Running Aces.
Gould wasted no time in getting started on his next 100 wins, picking up win number 101 two races later with American Cross ($4.20), a filly by Ice Machine, in a career best 2:00.4 mile to take the sophomore ‘B’ trot.
Both winners are owned by Aimes Racing and trained by Elvin Zimmerman.
Heavy rains moved in at Running Aces just before race four, which was conducted over a sloppy track. The rains then intensified further over the next hour which forced cancellation of the remainder of the program due to safety concerns.
The $50,000 Dan Patch FFA final, which had been slated as race eight, has been rescheduled for next Sunday (Aug. 4). More details will be made available as soon as possible.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday night (July 30) for a nine-race program which gets underway with first post at 7 p.m. (CDT).