Columbus, MN — The Thursday night (June 27) card at Running Aces featured four divisions of the Minnesota-sired sophomore pace with a total purse of $50,000. The contests did not disappoint on excitement and the night was filled with action-packed races and close finishes.

El Parrandero Q posted his second straight win in the $16,000 male ‘A’ division. Nicole Tate photo.

El Parrandero Q posted his second straight win in the $16,000 male ‘A’ division in 1:54.3 for a new career mark and his seventh career win.

Driver Jacob Cutting floated the son of Wind Me Up away in fourth position early while Spiritofanoutlaw (Mooney Svendsen) and Rocklikeahurricane (James Kennedy) battled for the lead and Celebrity Status (Nick Roland) Sat third through solid early fractions of :27.2 and :56.3. Spiritofanoutlaw still had the lead as they headed into the final turn but Cutting tipped three-wide with El Parrandero Q to make a big move toward the front near the 1:25.4 three-quarter juncture.

Spinning for home, El Parrandero Q drew on even terms with the leader and then edged clear in deep stretch but Celebrity Status had also shaken free and was surging on the outside. Those two battled to the wire in a thrilling finish that put the photo-finish camera into action. After review, El Parrandero Q ($4.40) had held on for the win by a scant nose over Celebrity Status and they were three lengths clear of Tee You Vee in third.

The winner is owned by Triple Q Stables and is trained by Edwin Quevedo. The winning breeder is Fabiola Quevedo.

Deja Vu Babyboo (Karpathian Kid) made her way back to the winner’s circle in the $16,000 fillies ‘A’ division for her first win of the season.

Roland sent her quickly from the gate and they secured the pocket position while heavy favorite Apple Juice went to the front. They remained one-two through the moderate fractions of :28.3, :57.4 and 1:26.1. Delco Irene began to surge toward the leaders as they straightened for the stretch drive but Deja Vu Babyboo shook free from the pocket and had the most pace in the final stages, surging past Apple Juice to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.3 while Delco Irene checked in third.

The winner is owned by her breeder Van Otterloo Stables and is trained by Bob Lems.

The Creature (Easy Again) posted a career best effort to win the $11,000 sophomore ‘B’ division in 1:58.1 with trainer/driver Brady Jenson for owner Larry Jenson. They were one length better than Stashin Cache (James Gould) with race favorite Boom Boom Bullseye (Jeffrey Hunt) home in third. The win mutel was $7.40.

The Big Aristotle (Special Forces) took a new lifetime mark in 2:00 to capture victory in the $7,000 ‘C’ division over Wisco Incredible and Say So’s Wind Up. Todd Warren was the winning pilot for trainer Justin Anfinson and owners Jay and Austin De Long. The Big Aristotle returned $6.80.

Drivers Brady Jenson and Nick Roland led the Thursday program with three wins each while Jenson also had three training wins.

Live racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday (June 30) for a 12-race program that will feature the $35,000 Ron Banks Memorial FFA Mares Pace final. First post on Sunday is 6 p.m. (CDT).