Columbus, MN — Escaper (Muscle Hill) and driver Billy Mann were ready for battle when the starter said “go” in the $14,750 Open Trot at Running Aces on Sunday (May 25).
The duo charged away quickly from the outside post in the talent filled six horse field and had no trouble making the front while Iron Sharpens Iron (Rick Magee) also left sharply from the inside post and secured the pocket spot. Chiplosive (Brady Jenson) landed in third and they were single file through the opening fractions of :28.1 and :59.
Greentea (Luke Plano) launched a backside bid from fourth which prompted both Yo Lucky Moni (Dean Magee) and Ice Breakers K (Bryan Quevedo) to tip out into the cover flow and the field was tightly packed as they rounded past three-quarters in 1:27.2.
In the lane Escaper kept to his task and turned back the challenge from Greentea while Iron Sharpens Iron took closer order from the pocket, but Escaper ($3.80) had plenty left for the final stages and once again evaded capture, scoring a one length tally in 1:56.3 to make it two in a row at Aces and three in a row overall. Iron Sharpens Iron was second best and longshot Ice Breakers K rallied late for third money.
The winner is owned by Terrence Smith and is trained by Maria Alvarez for the Williams Hernandez stable.
Attraente (Gimpanzee) and driver Rick Magee posted a very attractive looking win in the $6,000 first leg of the Banker Volo Trotting Series, going gate-to-wire in 1:58.4 over SB Eye Candy (Mooney Svendsen) and Impressive Landing (Mann).
It was the third victory in five career starts for the sophomore filly Attraente ($2.40) who is owned by Jana Rucker and CJ Christianson and trained by Elson Miller.
Rosetta (Walner) posted a game effort with Dean Magee in the bike to capture the $8,500 sophomore Open Trot in 2:00, getting home a half-length better than SHS Southern Pride (Rick Magee) with longshot It’s Gonna Be Mae (Sean Smithpeters) rounding out the top three.
It was the fifth win from nine starts this year for Rosetta ($3.00) who is owned by Dr. Ken Rucker and also trained by Miller.
Brady Jenson led the Sunday program with three driving wins while Elson Miller led all trainers with three wins and Rick Magee also posted a driving double.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday night (May 27) for a nine-race program that will get underway at 7 p.m. (CDT).