by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces Casino & Racetrack

Columbus, MN —The weekend of harness racing at Running Aces was highlighted by the track’s annual Community Charity night on Sunday (Aug. 6) with management, fans and horsemen all coming together to support five vital local charities.

On the racetrack, the best mile of the night was turned in by JDS Brent N Sheree in the featured $7,000 conditioned pace.

Dee Leftwich photo

JDS Brent N Sheree posted a sharp win by 5-1/4 lengths in 1:52.4.

Driver James Yoder floated away from the gate in third from post one, and then launched a first-over attack past the three-eighths marker, continuing to gradually grind down front-runner Swagasaurus Rex (Dean Magee). JDS Brent N Sheree ($3.00) took the lead as they turned for home and proceeded to draw away from the field, posting a sharp win by 5-1/4 lengths in 1:52.4 despite a sloppy track at that point.

The winner is a 5-year-old gelding by Panspacificflight and is trained by Robert Lems for owner Truman Gale and this tally was his second straight win in three local starts.

The featured trotting event on Sunday was a $5,500 conditioned event and heavy race favorite Lodi Dorian Blues ($2.80) did not disappoint in the affair, posting his sixth win in 16 starts this season, closing from off the speed to draw away in the lane by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:58. Steve Wiseman was in the sulky for trainer Kathie Plested-Wiseman and owners Scott Ehrlich and George Mc Chrystal.

Driver James (J.D.) Yoder posted a hat trick on Sunday with three wins on the card and Steve Wiseman completed a driving double as well.

The 20-cent Jackpot Pick-5 wager has a carryover of $28,009.68 for Tuesday night (Aug. 8).

On Saturday night (Aug. 5) Swinging Again ($3.60) with driver James JD Yoder picked up his fifth lifetime win, with a new lifetime mark of 1:53.2 in the $8,000 MN conditioned pace, the featured event on the card, for owners Wolfswinkel Pacers and trainer Gene Miller. Steve’s Hot Rod (Rick Magee) was very game in defeat, finishing a strong second.

Dewey Did Done Good converted a pocket trip into a career best win in 1:54.2 with driver Dean Magee for trainer Alexia Kehl and owner Richard Davelaar. It was the ninth lifetime win in 23 starts for the 3-year-old gelding pacer by Voracious Hanover.

Mooney Svendsen was back in action after missing two nights of racing following a racing accident last week and he wasted no time getting right back to the winner’s circle, posting a driving double on the Saturday program.

Mooney picked up winners with Spectre Of A Gun for trainer Kathie Plested-Wiseman for that 3-year-old trotting gelding’s first lifetime win, paying $29.80. Mooney also scored with Hi Ho’s Little Rev in race six, paying a $6.60 win return, as that 5-year-old pacer picked up his 11th lifetime tally, in 1:55.4 for owner/trainer Bob Johnson.

Mucho Macho Man, a 3-year-old pacing gelding by Up Front Brad picked up his second lifetime win, in a career best mile of 1:56.2 with Steve Wiseman in the bike for trainer Denise Maier and owners Cheryl and Alan Sandbulte. After getting away fifth, Wiseman sent Mucho Macho Man ($3.40) first up and on the attack, making the lead just past the three-quarters and pacing home strong in the stretch for a 1-3/4 length tally.