Columbus, MN — The Tuesday night (June 8) card at Running Aces was packed with great racing and big performances, including another victory for 6-year-old pacer Giggle Monster, who posted a dominating 2-1/4 length score in 1:53 in a $7,000 event.

The victory lifted Giggle Monster’s season win total to 11. Dee Leftwich photo.

The victory lifted Giggle Monster’s season win total to 11, making him the only horse in the sport to have 11 wins on their card in 2021.

The sharp son of Wind Me Up has always been a star at Running Aces, where most of his 30 career wins have been recorded. He was also voted Horse of the Year in Minnesota in 2017 after winning seven of nine starts in his freshman campaign.

On Tuesday night, driver-trainer Nick Roland floated away fourth with Giggle Monster ($3.40) from post five and then brushed to the lead at the quarter, clearing just as they straightened in the lane for the first time, and once on the lead, he was never in doubt at any point in the 1:53 mile. Giggle Monster is owned by Set The Pace Racing.

The $11,000 Open Handicap Pace went to post with a deeply talented field of seven facing the starter, and the race was a thriller from start to finish.

SB Bodacious (Rick Magee) was looking for four wins in a row and went to the front from the outside post but not before having to work a bit to clear the lead from stablemate Zanetti (Brady Jenson) in a quick :26.2 opening stanza. Stuckey Dote (Mooney Svendsen) was also away sharply and dropped in third.

SB Bodacious led through the middle stages of the race as well, posting a half-mile in :55.1 and three-panels in 1:22.4. Turning for home, Zanetti emerged from the pocket and took the lead as they approached the wire, but Stuckey Dote had also found a seam down the center of the track and flew to the wire, along with two other fast closers in So So De Vie (Dean Magee) and Whatchyastarinat (Tony Kerwood).

The thrilling finish was a five-way photo for all positions and in the end Stuckey Dote got a head up at the wire in 1:51.1 over Zanetti and SB Bodacious. The top four were separated by just a neck.

It was the 43rd career tally and third of the season for Stuckey Dote ($21.40), who has now earned $419,248 for owner/breeder Merlin Van Oterloo. He is trained by Brett Ballinger.

Parklane Jet posted his 12th career win and a new career mark with a 1:51.4 victory in a $5,200 conditioned pace on Tuesday night. After getting away third, driver Dean Magee sent Parklane Jet ($7.00) to the lead and he controlled the race from there, fending off a first-over challenge from Hoo Nien A (Gerald Longo) to check in a half-length ahead of that rival at the wire. The winner is owned by Terrence Smith and trained by Edward Hernandez.

Drivers Mooney Svendsen, Jacob Cutting and Brady Jenson all recorded doubles on the Tuesday card, and Jenson also recorded a training double.

Live racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday (June 10) with first post at 6:05 p.m. (CDT) and features a carryover in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager of $13,121.18.