Columbus, MN — Running Aces closed out its 2020 season with a nine race program on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 4). The featured event on the card was the $13,500 Minnesota-Sired consolation race for older pacing mares.

Free Radical was the heavy favorite in the five horse affair, coming into the race with back-to-back open-length wins to her credit.

Free Radical with driver Chris Scicluna dominated the closing day feature at Running Aces. Dee Leftwich photo.

This week the 6-year-old daughter of Hot Pans was sharper than ever, blasting out to the front and maintaining solid control throughout the mile, stealing an easy opening half of :59.1 and then pacing a back half in :57 to draw away in the lane for a five length tally in 1:56.1 to complete three wins in a row. Fancy Little Girl (Nick Roland) was home second and Trinitysfancyfilly (Braxten Boyd) picked up third.

Free Radical (Chris Scicluna, $2.40) is owned and trained by Natalie Zabrzenski. This was just the fourth start with Zabrzenski, who had the mare well prepared for the final weeks of the Running Aces meet.

Scicluna went on to win three races on the closing day card, with an additional win as owner/trainer.

His top pacer Hoo Nien A ($5.00) took the $9,500 Horses and Geldings Open Handicap Pace in 1:53.3 and his top pacing mare My Kiwi Lady N (Jacob Cutting, $4.80) captured the $9,500 Mares Open Handicap Pace in 1:54.2.

Marced Debutante (Nick Roland, $2 20) delivered as the big favorite in the $13,500 Minnesota-Sired consolation race for freshman pacing fillies with a gate-to-wire victory in 1:58.1. The winning filly is leased by Cory and Katelyn Larson and trained by Jessica Johnson.

Multiple race winners on the day included Scicluna with two training wins and three driving wins, Braxten Boyd and Nick Roland with two driving wins each, and George Reider with two training wins.

Nick Roland was awarded his fourth leading driver title and Jessica Johnson picked up her first leading trainer award.

The mandatory payout Pick-5 wager picked up more than $39,000 in new action to add to the $20,435 carryover. Twelve players solved the Pick-5 puzzle and picked up $4,211.72 for every 20-cent ticket.