Columbus, MN – The top distaffers as well as the Minnesota-sired sophomore pacers were in the spotlight at Running Aces on Thursday night (Sept. 11).
The $17,000 Mares Open Handicap pace went to post with a deeply talented field of eight contestants and a deservedly wide open betting board.
Scorecard Dandy and driver Dean Magee blasted off the gate quickly from post six to get the first call and Twist Little Girl N (Mooney Svendsen) was not far behind her before surging past to take the top just after the :27.2 quarter clocking.
Mother Mary (Rick Magee) launched a first-over bid near the :56.1 half and Lloyd’s Loves (Bryan Quevedo) followed the cover while JK My Girl (Scott Cisco) saved ground at the pylons from fourth and then Premier Desirey (Brady Jenson) tipped out and also got rolling as they headed into the far turn.
Twist Little Girl N was still going strong on top to post three-quarters in 1:24 and extended her lead to two lengths near the top of the lane, but things tightened up as they straightened for the drive with four horses fanning across the track for the battle to the wire.
JK My Girl ($27.60) shook free from the pylons and angled out between horses to lunge at the leader in the final strides and get a neck in front on the line over Twist Little Girl N in 1:52.3 while Scorecard Dandy was a close third and Premier Desirey a game fourth.
The winner is a 6-year-old daughter of JK Endofanera and is owned by Erika Huffman and trained by Bob Lems. She now shows eight wins this season and 24 career wins with total earnings of $258,938.
Swinging On By (Dean Magee, $5.20) posted a dominating gate-to-wire win in the $17,000 sophomore colts pace in 1:55 over Wind Me Up Blue and Tutto Bene for his fifth win of the season for owner/trainer Brett Ballinger and additional owner Darren Taylor.
Miss May Bell (Brady Jenson, $2.80) went coast-to-coast in the $17,000 filly pace in 1:56 over Charming Katie and Skooch’s Valentine for her third straight win and her seventh win of the season for owner/breeder Merlin Van Oterloo and trainer Brett Ballinger.
Blazin For Life (Jenson, $3) delivered as the favorite in the $8,500 sophomore ‘B’ division, surging late from third to draw clear at the wire in 1:57.1 over She’s A Brujaja and SB Kara Mia.
The winner is owned by Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte and is trained by Justin Anfinson. He now shows five wins on the season.
Luke Plano led the program with four driving wins while Brady Jenson recorded a driving double and Brett Ballinger posted a training double.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday night (Sept. 14) at 6 p.m (CDT) for the final Pepsi Family Night program of the 2025 season. The final week of the meet will offer live action on Tuesday (9/16), and Friday and Saturday (9/19 & 9/20).