by Darin Gagne, Running Aces track announcer

Columbus, MN — Driver Luke Plano wasted no time finding the winner’s circle on the Tuesday night (Aug. 2) program at Running Aces.

Dee Leftwich photo

Luke Plano was congratulated in the winner’s circle after his 3,000th win.

After sweeping the late Daily Double on Sunday night, Plano was sitting on career driving win 2,999 and I spoke to Luke just after he notched number 3,000 in Tuesday night’s opening race and he told me, “When you reach the edge of one of these big milestone numbers, it’s easy to get stuck in that one-away holding pattern, so I was very happy to be able to get it right away in race one tonight.”

Indeed that was the best way to get it done and for good measure he added another win a few races later to get a jump start on the next 1,000.

The big milestone came in race one with Majorley ($5.80), a 9-year-old Art Major gelding owned and trained by Edwin Quevedo.

Plano, currently fourth in the Aces dash winning standings this season, got away in the pocket from post one, then quickly brushed to the lead just past the quarter pole and was never in doubt with Majorley, scoring by one length in 1:55.1.

Luke Plano was born in Ohio and is the son of another great horseman and top driving talent in Rick Plano. He makes his home in Sacramento, Calif., and is one of the most sought-after drivers at Cal-Expo each season. The 36-year-old driver was a runaway winner in the driver’s standings this past season at the West Coast track, which is where he started his driving career back in 2000. Since then he has steadily become a very talented reinsman, picking up at least 150 wins every year since 2005. His best year to date was in 2011, when he piloted 269 winners and racked up $660,354 in purses.

He has been campaigning at Running Aces during summers for the past several years now and has been among the top five drivers at the Minnesota oval since his arrival. Last season, while competing here at Aces, he surpassed the $10 million purse earnings threshold.

In addition to being a sought after catch-driver, he also trains a small stable of horses as well, and his trainees have had 14 wins and 42 top-three finishes in 105 races so far at the Running Aces meet.

The Tuesday night feature race at Running Aces was the $13,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace and Party Hangover Two did not disappoint with a dominating performance in the contest.

Assigned post eight in the nine-horse affair, trainer/driver Steve Wiseman used his mare’s tactical speed to sprint from the gate and they found the lead just after the :27.2 quarter clocking. From there it was never in doubt for the talented 5-year-old by Party At Artsplace, who is now eight for 12 on the season after the 1:54.2 mile. She now has $44,070 in the bank this season for owners Kathy Plested, Barbara and Donald Arnstine, and Stephen Chambers. Party Hangover Two returned just $2.40 as part of a two-horse entry in the wagering.

Firedrake, a 3-year-old gelding pacer by Dragon Again, was an absolute monster, posting a scintillating performance in a $5,500 conditioned event. He started from post seven and trainer/driver Nick Roland sent him storming out of the gate to an immediate lead. From there he posted fractions of :28.2, :58 and 1:25.3 before motoring home in :27.3 to post a two length win. Race favorite Dakota Jack (Steve Wiseman) sat in the pocket and tried to mount a stretch rally, but there would be no getting to Firedrake as he absolutely paced away from his closest rival and stopped the clock in 1:53.1, a new lifetime mark, with the last half-mile in a very impressive :55.1. This super nice pacer is owned by Set The Pace Racing and has now won six of 12 lifetime starts.

Whatitdo Babyboo posted another sharp win as well, with a come-from-behind and pulling away score in 1:58.3, a lifetime best mile, in the $8,000 2-year-old filly pace with Steve Wiseman in the sulky for Van Otterloo Stables and trainer David Flynn. She was the big favorite and paid just $2.10 after the 4-1/2 length win.

Steve’s Hot Rod (by Voracious Hanover) pulled an 11-1 upset in the $8,000 2-year-old geldings pace, with a 1:58.1 lifetime mark win from gate-to-wire with Rick Magee in the bike, paying $25.40. He is owned by Kati Sokolowski and also trained by David Flynn.

Mint To Cruise (by Up Front Brad) also posted a huge winning mile, with a sweeping win from well off the pace in a $4,500 conditioned pacing event. He stormed home in :28.3 to post a 5-3/4 length win in 1:56.1, a lifetime best mile with trainer/driver Nick Roland, again for owners Set The Pace Racing. He paid $4.40 to win.

Driver Steve Wiseman had a big night with a hat trick and Nick Roland and Luke Plano both posted driving doubles.