from Running Aces

Columbus, MN — Luke Plano, a winner of 2,818 races, reached the $10 million purse earnings plateau on Wednesday night (Aug. 26) at Running Aces.

The 35-year-old son of veteran trainer-driver Rick Plano began his driving career at Cal Expo in California in 2000 when he won 26 races and earned $121,902 in purse money for the owners of the horses he drove in his rookie season. He had his first 100 win season in 2003 and has captured between 118 and 292 races every year since. Luke has sported a UDR of more than .320 for the last eight seasons and earned purses in excess of $500,000 every year since 2004.

Currently Plano is completing his first full season at Running Aces and is fourth in the dash standings behind Nick Roland and Steve Wiseman, who are tied for the lead with 62, and Tim Maier, who is one win ahead of Plano with 48.

Plano’s milestone victory came behind the trotter Al-Mar Pizzazz, who notched her fifth win in six starts since Luke became her regular pilot. The 4-year-old SOS Lunar Eclipse daughter bested a field of conditioned and claiming trotters chasing a $4,800 purse in 1:58.4. Norwegian-born trainer Ulf Holm-Johansen owns the Minnesota-sired trotter in partnership with Vernon Devine.

A single astute handicapper solved the 50-cent Pick-6 on Wednesday and was rewarded with a handsome $2,452 return.