Columbus, MN – The featured event on the Sunday night (Aug. 10) harness racing program at Running Aces was the $15,000 Steve Wiseman Memorial trot preview with a very talented field of seven going postward.
DP Freedoms Chrome, who had been undefeated in 15 local starts in his career, was making his Running Aces return in this event and was bet down as the 1-20 favorite from post six while defending Wiseman trot champion All Champy was sent off as the 5-1 second choice from post one.
All Champy (Mooney Svendsen) made a mistake at the start and got away last while Escaper (Billy Mann) and Bringoverthemoney (Dean Magee) both left quickly, with Escaper taking the top as they headed around the first turn while DP Freedoms Chrome (James Gould) floated wide and was advancing toward the front before making a break right at the :27.4 quarter mile.
All Champy got rolling near the :59.1 half-mile checkpoint and made a breathtaking move to the front as they headed down the backside, relegating Escaper to second while Bringoverthemoney tracked along in third.
DP Freedoms Chrome was not able to get back into contention as All Champy posted a quick :28 third panel and led the field into the lane.
Escaper had much more to offer and vacated the pocket as they straightened for the drive and it was clearly a two horse contest with the top pair battling it out in the final yards.
Escaper ($54.20) was able to surge past All Champy late to garner a 1-1/4 length tally in 1:56.2 while Bringoverthemoney was third best.
The winner is owned by Terrence Smith and is trained by Maria Alvarez for the Williams Hernandez Stable. It was the eighth win of the season for the 4-year-old son of Muscle Hill.
Peanutbutterfalcon (Rick Magee, $4.20) delivered another big performance to win the $9,000 sophomore Open Handicap trot in 1:59. The talented son of Quality Kemp went gate-to-wire and held off all late challengers to score his fifth win in a row by a half-length over Braggen Bliss (Nick Roland) with Oh Yes (Brady Jenson) getting home third.
It was the seventh win from eight starts this season for Peanutbutterfalcon for owner/breeder Jeri Roland and trainer Dan Roland.
Lexus Markus (Scott Cisco, $15.80) pulled a mild upset in the $12,750 Open II trot, converting a perfect pocket trip into a two-length triumph over Ice Breakers K (Jenson) in 1:55.2, with favorite Chiplosive (Mann) home in third. It was the third win of the season for the 8-year-old son of Amigo Hall for owners Nathalie Tremblay and Dave Kuri. Tremblay is also the winning trainer.
Driver Rick Magee led the night with four wins while Brady Jenson posted a driving triple and a training double and trainer Nathalie Tremblay also sent out two winners.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday night (Aug. 12) with an eight-race program that will get underway at 7 p.m. (CDT) and will feature a carryover of $13,404.97 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager that will begin in race four.