Columbus, MN — Running Aces opened its 2025 live racing season on Sunday night (May 18) to a nice on-track crowd who were treated to some very competitive racing over the Minnesota five-eighths-mile oval.
Escaper (Muscle Hill) worked out a perfect pocket trip from post one in the $14,750 Open Trot feature, intently tracking leader Chiplosive (Brady Jenson) throughout moderate early fractions of :29 and :57.2. Race-favorite All Champy (Mooney Svendsen) made a miscue shortly before the half and subsequently was well behind the field.
Chiplosive still had the advantage as they rounded past the three-quarters in 1:27.1 and driver Billy Mann and Escaper were still close behind before tipping from the pylons as they turned for home. Escaper charged alongside the leader through the lane and edged to the lead inside the final sixteenth of a mile before drawing off by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:56.3 while Greentea (Rick Magee) rallied late to just edge out Chiplosive on the wire for the place position.
It was the fourth win of the season for the 4-year-old gelding, owned by Terrence Smith and trained by Maria Alvarez for the Williams Hernandez stable. For winning driver Mann, it was his first trip to the Running Aces winner’s circle. The win mutuel was $6.80.
Driver Rick Magee led the night with three wins and trainer Justin Anfinson sent out two winners on the opening night card.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday (May 20) for the first ‘Dollar Night’ program of the season. $1 hot dogs, chips, sodas and programs and $2 beers are offered on Tuesdays, as well as drawings for free bets. Post time on Tuesdays is 7 p.m. (CDT) while Thursdays and Sundays get underway at 6 p.m.