Columbus, MN – It was ladies night on the track at Running Aces on Thursday (Aug. 20) and Fillister Photo stole the show with an impressive stretch rally to capture the $17,000 Mares Open Handicap pace as a 12-1 upset winner.
Driver Casey Leonard was unhurried with Fillister Photo in the early stages of the affair and floated away in seventh position while Mother Mary (driven by Rick Magee) and Premier Desirey (Dean Magee) battled for the top through a fast opening half mile that saw fractions of :26.4 and :55 with Miss May Bell tracking from third and Wish I Had Thyme traveling in fourth.
The top two made a big break away from the rest down the backstretch before Wish I Had Thyme launched a first-over bid heading into the final turn and past the third checkpoint in 1:23.5, which provided cover for both Overthemoonforyou and Fillister Photo who were now in fifth and sixth respectively.
The field began to fan across the track as they straightened for the stretch drive and both Mother Mary and Premier Desirey dug in gamely and were once again locked in battle as they approached the wire, but Leonard found a clear path on the far outside with Fillister Photo to emerge from the pack and surge strongest of all to the wire to post a one-length tally in 1:53.
Mother Mary and Premier Desirey could not be separated for the place position.
The $26.40 winner is a 6-year-old daughter of Easy Again who now shows 29 career wins and earnings of $268,761 for owner Scorpio Stable and trainer Robert Lems.
Swinging On Over (by Three Of Clubs) posted a career best 1:54 mile to capture the $17,000 Minnesota-sired sophomore male ‘A’ pace with Adam Hauser in the bike for trainer Justin Anfinson. They rallied impressively from fifth at the top of the lane to win by a neck over CL Dancer and Cool Mr Cool and returned $32 on top.
Sparklinchardonnay (by Aracache Hanover) and driver/trainer Nick Roland delivered as the favorites in the $17,000 filly ‘A’ pace for her sixth career win with a 1:56 tally by 1-3/4 lengths over Starstruck Fool and Thiskidcanfly.
Casey Leonard led the program with three driving wins while Nick Roland scored both a driving and training double and both Mikaela Delgiudice and Bob Lems each had two training wins.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday night (Aug. 23) and will feature a special visit from Patty Strand and the Hoof Beat Therapeutic Center, a program that employs retired Standardbreds from Running Aces in a therapy program for children, adults and the elderly. One of the stars of the program is retired pacer Firedrake, who won the Dan Patch FFA at Running Aces in 2017 and he will be on site near the winner’s circle on Sunday to meet racing fans.
Sunday is also “Pepsi Family Night” with specials and kid’s activities, trout fishing, food trucks and a ‘Sole Survivor’ handicapping contest. First post for the 10-race program is set for 6 p.m. (CDT).