Columbus, MN — The rain-soaked conditions at Running Aces on Thursday (Aug. 18) did not stop Curvsreasyondaeyes and Luke Plano from posting sensational performances on the racetrack.

Curvsreasyondaeyes and driver Luke Plano both dominated at Aces on Thursday. Dee Leftwich photo.

The $19,800 Minnesota-sired sophomore ‘A’ pace was the featured event on the nine-race program. Curvsreasyondaeyes ($3.00) made it a perfect 8-for-8 on the season in the feature with a dominating effort from post eight with Plano in the bike to score his first of five driving wins on the soggy Thursday card.

Antetokounmpo (Rick Magee) was fast away from post four and Give Me This Dance (Dean Magee) also powered away from post five to battle for the front, but that did not deter Plano from sending Curvsreasyondaeyes from post eight. The star gelding by Easy Again had no trouble making the top near the quarter pole, and once settled onto the lead there were never any doubts about his eighth consecutive win. Give Me This Dance was a strong second best, while Kitty Wampus made a nice rally from the back of the pack to nab third from Antetokounmpo. The time of the mile was 1:55.4.

Kati Sokolowski is the winning owner and breeder and Maria Alvarez is the winning trainer.

The $13,200 ‘B’ split went to Anotherblazinwoman ($2.80) who was also piloted by Plano. They made an early move to the lead after getting away second, controlled the tempo and held gamely in the lane to keep a head in front at the wire when SB Prince Archie (Chip Lackey) surged late with Rosco P Coletrain (Mooney Svendsen) home in third in the 1:57.2 mile.

The winner is a daughter of Wind Me Up and is owned by her breeders Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte and trained by Justin Anfinson who had two wins on the program.

The $16,500 Minnesota-sired freshman filly pace went to Justpoppinpickles (Lackey, $20.40) in 2:02.1 for her first career win. The daughter of Fancy Schmansy won a three way photo for the win over Wavzeka (Rick Magee) and Stevies Girl (Svendsen). The winner is owned and trained by Gerald Longo.

I’m A Skoldier ($2.80) and driver Mooney Svendsen made it four wins in a row with a gate-to-wire effort from post nine in the $16,500 freshman male pace in 1:59. The sharp son of Wind Me Up controlled the affair and held off a late challenge from Polar Storm (Lackey) in the lane, while Dougsmonkeybusines (Dean Magee) was a very good third. The winning owner and breeder is Van Otterloo Stables and the winning trainer is Bob Lems.

Live racing returns to Running Aces for Pepsi Family Night on Sunday (Aug. 21) and will feature the $35,000 Ron Banks Memorial final. First post for the nine-race program is at 7 p.m. (CDT).