Columbus, MN – Veteran driver Luke Plano crossed the $20 Million mark in career purse earnings on Thursday night (May 21) at Running Aces when he piloted TJB Secreharriet to victory in the first race.
The 46-year-old reinsman has been a mainstay at Running Aces for 14 years and always ranks near or at the top of the standings. He is currently the only driver ever to surpass the $1 million mark for single-season driver earnings at the Minnesota track, accomplishing that feat in 2023 when he also won the leading driver title.
Plano currently sits second in the driver standings for the new season with five wins.
In the milestone race, Plano left alertly with TJB Secreharriet and opted to drop in third while Fiftyshadesofcray (Lemoyne Svendsen) and Juliet Duz (Brandon Jenson) battled for the top. He sat patiently through moderate fractions and waited for the homestretch to make his move.
As they rounded into the lane, he angled his charge out to the middle of the track and they kicked into gear, posting a :28.3 final quarter to surge past the leaders and draw clear to win by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:55.4 in the $5,700 conditioned pace.
Plano also trains the 5-year-old daughter of Wind Me Up for owner Scott Ehrlich. It was her first win of the season and equaled her career best clocking. She returned $5.60 as the race favorite.
Plano wasted no time in getting started on his next milestone, picking up another win in race two aboard Wish I Had Thyme ($17.80), who recorded a new lifetime mark in 1:53 for trainer Alexia Kehl.
Plano will pilot the 7-5 morning line favorite Chapolier (Chapter Seven) in the upcoming Sunday night (May 24) Open trot feature. They will try to make it two in a row in the $15,000 contest and will start from post five against the same four rivals from last week.
I’m Fancy Like (Dancin Yankee) converted a perfect pocket journey into her third win of the season in the $15,000 Mares Open Handicap pace, surging past pace-setter Heart Song (Svendsen) in the final strides to post a half-length tally in 1:53.2. Casey Leonard was the winning pilot for owner Heart & Soul Racing and trainer Brett Ballinger. The win mutuel was $4.20.
Brady Jenson also posted a driving double on the Thursday card.
Post time on Sunday at Running Aces is 6 p.m. (CDT) and there is a T-shirt giveaway to the first 500 patrons as well as Family night activities and specials and a special visit from Keith Gisser with his ‘Herps Alive’ interactive reptile display.