Columbus, MN – Running Aces hosted the first freshman action of the season on Tuesday (June 17) with a field of seven rookie pacers going to post for the $8,500 2-year-old Open.
Starstruck Fool (Karpathian Kid) and driver Nick Roland were the fastest off the car and established early control with a quick opening panel in :27.4 while heavy favorite Fire Inside (Check Six) and Elson Miller secured the pocket trip and Set Free (Three Of Clubs) and driver Rick Magee landed in third.
Roland orchestrated a :30.4 breather in the second quarter and maintained the lead as they headed onto the backstretch. Miller tipped from the pocket before the five-eighths marker and drew alongside the leader as they rounded past the three-quarters in 1:27.
The top pair were locked in battle as they turned into the lane but as they straightened for home Fire Inside had another gear and quickly drew away with every stride, posting an impressive final quarter in :27.2 and stopping the timer at 1:54.2 for a new track record for freshman colt pacers.
The winning margin for Fire Inside ($2.60) was 5-1/4 lengths over Starstruck Fool, with Set Free a further half-length back in third.
Elson Miller is also the winning trainer and co-owns with Dr. Ken Rucker.
The previous record was held by Linkjack Hanover (Rick Magee) in 1:55.1 back in 2014.
Mac’s Marvel (Plano, $2.80) delivered another big performance as the heavy favorite in the $14,750 Open Handicap pace, going gate-to-wire in 1:51.3 for two in a row and a seasonal mark. The 6-year-old son of Captaintreacherous was never in doubt and checked home 1-1/2 lengths ahead of PD The Big Easy (Brady Jenson) with Don’t Judge A Book (Billy Mann) rounding out the top three.
The winner is owned by Friendship Stables and trained by Maria Alvarez for the Williams Hernandez Stable.
Elson Miller led the night with three training wins while Brady Jenson had a driving and training double and Rick Magee also drove two winners.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday night (June 19) for an 11-race program that will feature a pair of carryovers including $1,716.91 for the 50-cent Hi-5 wager in race four, as well as $9,075.03 for the 20-cent Pick-5, which starts in race seven. Post time is set for 6 p.m. (CDT).