from Running Aces Harness Park
Columbus, MN — There were four Minnesota-sired restricted races on the Tuesday night (August 23) card at Running Aces, but none more impressive than the first when 3-year-old pacing filly I Do It Myself scorched the five-eighths-mile oval in a track record 1:53.4 to open the program.
The quick triumph in the $4,000 event lowered the old standard for sophomore fillies of 1:55 set by Chickiechickiewawa.
Driver Nick Roland, currently third in the Running Aces driver dash standings behind Dean Magee and Rick Magee, also owns I Do It Myself and relegates the training to his sister Tessa Roland. The daughter of Relentless Yankee won for the sixth time in her last eight starts and has definitely stamped herself as the favorite going into the Labor Day $20,000 State Championship race for her division.
Wendy Haberberg’s Ya U Bet Cha (Gerry Longo) and Dale Lagerquist’s Peanuts weren’t far behind at the wire in the record-setting mile.
Older trotter DJ Speedy Fox (Craig Banks) proved worthy of her 1-5 favoritism in another state-restricted race, beating Earthshine (Dean Magee) and Shadowontheground (Nick Roland) in 2:00.1.
I’m Blue Too (Dean Magee) managed a two length, 1:58 score in the Minnesota 2-year-old pace, besting Iheartquestionmark (Joey Mapes) and Rolandale Dream (Nick Roland).
A race for older Minnesota pacers was also contested with Vanishing Ryan (Dean Magee) upsetting heavily favored Dandy Di (Nick Roland) in 1:55.1. Whirling Sam (Ryan Lems) raced creditably to garner the show dough.
Nine Minnesota State Senators are scheduled for a tour of the Running Aces facility on Wednesday afternoon as the track continues to promote the benefits to both the local economy and the statewide budget of adding slot machines to the 50 table card rooms that presently exist at Running Aces and Canterbury Park, its Thoroughbred counterpart. A larger amount of State Representatives are planning a similar visit on Monday of next week.
Racing resumes on Wednesday night (August 24) with a 7 p.m. (CDT) post time.