Columbus, MN – The featured event on the Tuesday night (June 24) harness racing program at Running Aces was the $14,750 Open Handicap pace, which drew a very talented field of nine contestants for this week’s edition.
He’zzz A Wise Sky was making his first local start of the season and was the public’s top pick at 3-5 while Speaking Volumes was the second choice in the win pool at 4-1.
PD The Big Easy (Brady Jenson) was fast off the car from post four to get the first call but He’zzz A Wise Sky and driver Dean Magee had their sites on the front of the field from post eight and they surged up quickly to challenge for, and take the lead near the :27.1 opening quarter-mile checkpoint, as Speaking Volumes (Rick Magee) traveled in third and Sneaky Hill (Brandon Jenson) operated in fourth early.
Alilthundadownunda (Nick Roland) got rolling from seventh near the (:55.1) half and created an outer flow that was joined by both War Machine (Mooney Svendsen) and Mac’s Marvel (Luke Plano) as they raced down the backstretch.
He’zzz A Wise Sky remained in full control as they headed into the final turn while PD The Big Easy was still snug in the pocket and Alilthundadownunda loomed large from third during the :28.1 third panel.
In the lane, He’zzz A Wise Sky kept going strong and was never in doubt to post a 1-1/2 length tally while Alilthundadownunda was clearly second best and Speaking Volumes shook free late to overtake PD The Big Easy for the show spot in the 1:52 mile.
It was the 59th career tally for He’zzz A Wise Sky ($3.40), who is an 8-year-old stallion by Yankee Skyscraper and is owned by Triple Zzz Stable and trained by John Filomeno. The victory also pushed his career bankroll to $904,877.
Starstruck Fool (Karpathian Kid) delivered a big performance with driver Nick Roland in the bike as the heavy favorite in the $17,000 Minnesota-sired freshman filly pace for her first career win, going gate-to-wire from post six in 1:59.2 to finish ahead of Delco Janet (Rick Magee) and Hilarious Hannah (Brady Jenson).
The winner is owned by Jeralene and Briar Roland and is trained by Lino Pacheco. The win mutuel was $2.40.
The other freshman winners on the card included Set Free (Three Of Clubs, $4) with driver Rick Magee in the $17,000 colts pace in 1:56.3 over Whatevrittakestwo and Luke Skyrocker, Memorialized (Karpathian Kid, $3.40) with driver Billy Mann in the $8,500 ‘B’ pace in 1:59.1 over Cool Mr Cool and Tidal Wave Photo, while the freshman trot events went to Al-Mar Flashover (Southwind Flash, $3.80) with driver Nick Roland in 2:01.3 over Wundrfoal and Bang Bang Boogie in the $21,000 ‘A’ division, and Wyoming Bound (Tymal Templar, $6.20) with driver Scott Cisco in 2:05 over Wisco Moni Heist and The Big Bomb in the $14,000 ‘B’ division.
Drivers Nick Roland and Brady Jenson both had doubles on the program while Jenson also had two training wins.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday night (June 26) for a 12-race program that will get underway at 6 p.m. (CDT) and also offers a ‘Superhero Night’ theme with kid’s activities and giveaways and fundraising for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.