by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces Casino & Racetrack

Columbus, MN —The Tuesday night (Aug. 15) Running Aces program saw many stellar performances and one of the impressive miles was turned in by Happy Heath ($77.20) with trainer/driver William Hernandez in a $5,400 conditioned pace.

Dee Leftwich photo

Happy Heath was a 1:55.3 winner on Tuesday at Running Aces.

Happy Heath was making his sixth local start of the season, and was dismissed by the public at 37-1 from the rail. Hernandez sent Happy Heath away sharply from the inside and secured the pocket, which would turn out to be the winning move.

The duo sat patiently through a torrid mid-race battle up front, and tipped from the pocket turning for home, with enough pace to get by the leaders and post a lifetime best mile in 1:55.3, in just the fourth career win for the 4-year-old gelding by General Aidid. Happy Heath is owned by Jessie Pacheco.

The $10,000 Open Handicap Trot went to Becky Badger Baby ($4.00), once again with trainer/driver Nick Roland for a second straight win, this one in 1:57 with a late rally to get up by a half-length at the wire. Becky Badger Baby is owned by Dale Hein and Royal and Barbara Roland and now has four wins in eight starts this season.

The $10,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace was yet another thrilling edition, with a big early speed battle getting the best of Best Of Jenna (Rick Magee) who was three-wide through the opening eighth of the mile and cleared the lead just past the sizzling :26 quarter. Gold Star Mysti ($4.20) launched a first-over attack just past the three-eighths pole and took command past the five-eighths checkpoint.

From there it was all Gold Star Mysti, as she opened up around the final turn and drew away in the lane to post a 5-3/4 length romp in 1:51.3 for her sixth win in nine starts this season. Gold Star Mysti is trained and driven by James (J.D.) Yoder for owner Marianne Audley. Kiss On The Lips (Dean Magee) was up for second and Boom Boom Shaboom (Brady Jenson) checked in third.

The $13,000 Minnesota-Sired 2-year-old trot went to Bragginade ($3.40), who kept to task to post an easy gate-to-wire score in 2:02.3 for a new lifetime mark with trainer Nick Roland in the sulky for owners Set The Pace Racing LLC.

The $13,000 Minnesota-Sired 2-year-old pacing event went to Giggle Monster ($3.00) who picked up his sixth victory in seven lifetime starts with Dean Magee in the bike (1:56) for trainer Denise Maier and owners Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte.

Drivers Nick Roland and Dean Magee both completed the hat trick with three wins apiece and driver James (J.D.) Yoder completed a driving double.

Live racing returns to Running Aces this coming Saturday (Aug. 19) with a first post of 6 p.m. (CDT) and a carryover in the 20-cent Jackpot Pick-5 of $36,851.92.