by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces

Columbus, MN — The Tuesday evening (May 22) program at Running Aces was headlined by the $11,000 Open Handicap Pace, with a talented field of six facing the starting gate.

Dee Leftwich photo

Firedrake was a 1:53.4 winner in the Open Handicap Pace.

Top billing went to Firedrake, winner of the 2017 Dan Patch Free-For-All Pace at Running Aces, and a track record holder. Firedrake ($4.40) with trainer Nick Roland in the bike, left alertly from post four on the gate and took command early, pacing a strong opening stanza of :27.3 and then stealing a pedestrian second panel of :30.3.

After that there would be no chance of catching the 5-year-old gelding by Dragon Again. Hard Cold Cash (Tim Maier) made a mild bid past the five-eighths pole, but was no match for Firedrake and the soft second quarter fraction. Pocket-sitter Kiss On The Lips (Gerald Longo) was able to secure second, over a late bid from To The Limit (Steve Wiseman). Firedrake paced a final half of :55.2 and final panel of :27.3 to secure the victory in 1:53.4 under a hand drive. The talented pacer is owned by Set The Pace Racing and now shows three wins in nine starts this year.

For driver Tim Maier, the trip on Hard Cold Cash in the feature race marked his return to the sulky after a 10-month hiatus from the track. The absence in the bike followed a racing spill last July. Management, staff, horsemen and fans from far and wide were all thrilled to see Tim back in the sulky. Tim and Cold Hard Cash finished fifth, beaten less than five lengths after a tough trip first-over in a fast final half-mile.

Stevensville ($3.20) made his presence felt in a big way as he posted a very sharp gate-to-wire victory in an eye-opening time of 1:52.2 with trainer/driver Rick Magee. Stevensville powered away from the middle of the gate in post four to grab command, and he faced a very strong challenge from Elusive Image (Tony Huffman) during the final half-mile. Stevensville was able to fend off Elusive image with a solid final quarter of :27.3, keeping his rival at bay. The final margin was a half-length. Stevensville is a 7-year-old stallion by Somebeachsomewhere and he is owned by Dr. Ken Rucker and Jana Lee Rucker. This tally was the 22nd lifetime win for the winner of $509,629.

Buzz Light (Nick Roland) posted a super-sharp win in the final contest of the night, a $7,000 conditioned pace. From post four, Buzz Light left sharply and secured second position behind the heavy race favorite Storming D Odds (Steve Wiseman). After being shuffled back to third, Roland was able to angle out just in time for a first-over bid at the half-mile, and Buzz Light proceeded to grind first-over, remaining in striking position until the homestretch, where he powered home impressively in :28.3 to score a solid win over the favorite, with Crash And Burn (Dean Magee) checking home in third in the 1:55.3 mile. Buzz Light is owned by Cathy Dessert and trained by Nick Roland. This victory was his third score this year and sixth lifetime win.

A rare occurrence took place this night at Running Aces, as the last five races on the card were won by horses wearing saddlepad number four, with nobody correctly selecting the 4-4-4-4-4 combination in the 20-cent Pick-5, nor anyone correctly playing 4-4-4-4 in the Late Pick-4 wager. Those two pools will now carryover to Saturday night (May 26), with first race scheduled at 6 p.m. (CDT).

Post position four actually won the final seven races on the card, after taking second in race one. Firedrake, No. 5 in race three, started from post four after the scratch of No. 2.