by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces

Columbus, MN — Another harness racing track record was turned in on Saturday night (Aug. 4) at Running Aces when 4-year-old stallion Ideal Jesse trotted away from his rivals to post a huge win by 6-3/4 lengths in 1:56.1, shattering the previous mark for 4-year-old stallions (2:02). This is the second track record for Ideal Jesse, as he holds the mark for 3-year-old stallions, also in 1:56.1 taken last June.

Dee Leftwich photo

Ideal Jesse sets a new track record of 1:56.1 at Running Aces on Saturday evening.

In Saturday’s event, a $4,500 conditioned race, Ideal Jesse started from the outside post nine and trainer/driver James Yoder floated him off the gate into a good position fourth along the pylons and waited there until just before the half, before launching a first-over attack. Ideal Jesse established the lead near the five-eighths mark and quickly opened up on the field, drawing away with every stride and trotting strong to the wire to arrive home well ahead of the rest. The record setting victory was the second win in 13 starts this year for the son of Jailhouse Jesse who now has 11 career wins and $112,324 in the bank. Ideal Jesse ($4.40) is owned by Cheyenne Yoder.

There were two divisions of the Winner’s-Over Pace on the Saturday program, each going for $10,000. In the first split, Bettor’s Promise (Lemoyne Svendsen) turned in another ultra-impressive tally for his second-straight top level win. From post seven, Bettor’s Promise engaged in a torrid early battle for the lead with Bestinthebusiness (James Yoder). when the dust cleared, Bettor’s Promise had taken command through a :26.2 early stanza, and held command through the remaining fractions of :55 and 1:22.4 before facing off once again against Bestinthebusiness in the stretch.

Bettor’s Promise fought gamely to the wire, to keep a neck up at the line and stop the timer in 1:51, just a tick off the overall track mark. The impressive victory tonight was win number eight in 25 starts this year for the 7-year-old Bettor’s Delight gelding who now has $43,622 in the bank this season for owners Richard Morita and David Yamada. Bettor’s Promise ($8.80) is trained by Jesse Pacheco.

In the other winner’s-over split, Whatchastarinat (James Yoder) turned in a career best performance in 1:52 for his first win of the season in seven races. Driver James Yoder fired him quickly off the gate from post five, with Holdingallthecards (Tim Maier) also leaving fast from post seven. After a short tussle, Holdingallthecards took command and Whatchastarinat picked up the pocket ride. That order remained until they straightened for home, with Whatchastarinat ($8.40) exploding from the pocket to edge past a very game leader, getting up to win by a half length in the end.

The winner is a 6-year-old gelding by Up Front Brad who now has 18 career wins. He is trained by Gene Miller for Wolfswinkel Pacers, Inc.

Live racing continues at Running Aces three nights a week, with first post at 6 p.m. CDT on weekends and 7 p.m. CDT on Tuesdays. The card for Sunday (Aug. 5) features several carryovers: the early Pick-4 ($1,163.36), the 20-cent Pick-5 ($8,227.19) and the 50-cent Hi-5 ($651.94).