Columbus, MN — The Tuesday night (Aug. 5) harness racing card at Running Aces featured a $12,750 Open II Handicap Pace, in which I’m A Skoldier rallied to win as the overwhelming 1-5 public choice.
Driver Josiah Miller left the gate alertly with the 5-year-old son of Wind Me Up, and they went to the front before yielding to stablemate Overtheedgeofhonor (Scott Cisco) and then retaking the top right at the :28.3 quarter mile.
PD The Big Easy brushed to the front near the three-eighths marker and led through middle fractions of :56.1 and 1:24.4 before Overtheedgeofhonor launched another attack and Don’t Judge A Book (Billy Mann) got rolling from second-over position.
Overtheedgeofhonor took command as they rounded for home while PD The Bog Easy threw in the towel and I’m A Skoldier shook free for a stretch rally. The stablemates battled through the final sixteenth of a mile, and I’m A Skoldier surged by in the final yards to get home a length in front of Overtheedgeofhonor in 1:52.4.
Don’t Judge A Book and Celebrity Status rounded out the top four.
I’m A Skoldier ($2.60) is owned by Jana Rucker in partnership with trainer Elson Miller. He now shows three wins this season and 20 career wins with total earnings of $236,082.
Team Miller had a big night as 18-year-old Josiah posted his first career driving grand slam while Elson led all trainers with three wins on the program.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday night (Aug. 7) with a nine-race program that will feature a $10,704.83 carryover in the 20-cent Jackpot Pick-5.