Columbus, MN – The featured event on the Thursday night (Aug. 21) harness racing program at Running Aces was the $15,500 Mares Open Handicap pace with a solid field of seven contestants.
Lloyd’s Loves (Billy Mann) was the heavy 1-2 public choice from post five and Scorecard Dandy (Dean Magee) was the clear second choice at 5-2 from post four.
Mann wasted no time in getting Lloyd’s Loves into high gear and they powered off the gate quickly to take command from Scorecard Dandy, who also left sharply, and Twist Little Girl N found a seat in third during the fast :26.4 opening quarter.
Lloyd’s Loves maintained an easy lead while posting middle fractions of :56.1 and 1:24.1 while Scorecard Dandy tracked intently in the pocket and JK My Girl (Scott Cisco) tried a first-over bid.
In the lane Lloyd’s Loves ($3) kept to her task while Scorecard Dandy tried to come after her with an inside rally but to no avail as Lloyd’s Loves dug in gamely for a solid one-length tally in 1:52 for her second straight win. Twist Little Girl N completed the popular ($30.20) trifecta.
The winner is a 5-year-old daughter of Rusty’s All In, owned by Dave Dobbelmann and trained by Edwin Quevedo. She now shows 33 career wins and earnings of $448,728.
Wind Me Up Blue (Cisco, $3.40) rallied late to surge past Swinging On By (Dean Magee) in the $15,000 sophomore colts ‘A’ pace in 1:56 for his fifth career win for owner/trainer Rick Cisco and additional owner Tamara Wainscott.
Miss May Bell (Brady Jenson, $2.10) delivered as the overwhelming favorite in the sophomore fillies ‘A’ pace in 1:54.4 over Wisco Half Pint (Luke Plano) for her sixth win in eight career starts for owner/breeder Merlin Van Otterloo and trainer Brett Ballinger.
The sophomore ‘B’ division winners included Tutto Bene (Mooney Svendsen, $2.40) in 1:55.3 and Charming Katie (Dean Magee, $8.40) in 1:56.2.
Dean Magee led the program with four driving wins while drivers Scott Cisco, Mooney Svendsen and Brady Jenson and trainer Brett Ballinger all posted doubles.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday night (Aug. 24) with a 12-race program for “Pepsi Family Night,” which will get underway at 6 p.m. (CDT).