Columbus, MN – There was no shortage of long shot winners on the Sunday night (Aug. 9) program at Running Aces, and that trend extended to a couple of the featured events on the card as well, including the $17,500 Steve Wiseman Memorial Trot Preview.
Fifty Rivers was the talk of the tote board as the 4-5 favorite while Escaper (7-2) and Peanutbutterfalcon (4-1) rounded out the top three picks by the public.
Escaper and driver Rick Magee charged fastest from the gate initially, and Casey Leonard was also intent on a forward position for Fifty Rivers and made an early move for the lead near the :27.2 quarter while 15-1 shot Inferno Dk and trainer/driver Brady Jenson had also left alertly from post 8 and secured the third position.
Fifty Rivers was the boss during the middle stages and posted solid fractions of :56.1 and 1:25.2 while Escaper tracked closely from the pocket and Inferno DK traveled in third before tipping out to make a bid as they headed into the final turn, which provided a cover flow for both Lexus Markus and Chapolier.
Inferno DK drew alongside Fifty Rivers as they rounded to the top of the lane and that pair were locked in a thrilling battle during the final sixteenth of a mile. Inferno DK was relentless and pushed past Fifty Rivers in the final strides to post a three-quarters of a length tally in 1:53.2, establishing the track record for older trotting geldings and a new career mark.
Lexus Markus prevailed in a three-way battle for third over Escaper and Peanutbutterfalcon.
The winner is a 6-year-old son of Great Challenger, who now has 16 career wins with earnings of $135,720. He is also owned by Jenson, in partnership with Theresia Rabida, Ken Stauffer and Cathy Dessert. Inferno DK paid $32.80 on top.
The previous track record for this category was 1:53.4, held by Pridecrest, driven by Steve Wiseman in 2018. The $35,000 Wiseman Memorial Final will be the main event next Sunday night (Aug. 16).
Jenson also provided some fireworks with 24-1 shot Model Good Looks (by Southwind Cobra) in the $17,500 Minnesota-sired filly trot with a very impressive 4-length tally in 1:57.3 for her first career win. They worked out a perfect trip behind heavy favorite SV Shining Star and exploded with trot in the lane to draw clear.
The $51.40 winner is owned by Larry Jenson and Ken Stauffer and also trained by Brady Jenson.
Bang Bang Boogie remained razor sharp and posted another gate-to-wire effort with Rick Magee in the bike in the $17,500 colts and geldings division in a career-best 1:56.1 over My Little Maverick and Wisco Moni Heist.
It was the eighth win of the season for the talented son of New Jersey Viking, who is owned by Stephanie Anfinson and Ken Stauffer and trained by Justin Anfinson.
Brady Jenson and Rick Magee each drove four winners on the card while Jenson also posted a training triple, and Anfinson and Mikaela DelGiudice each sent out two winners.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday night (Aug. 11) for a nine-race program that will get underway at 7 p.m. (CDT).