Columbus, MN — The featured event on the Memorial Day weekend racing program at Running Aces on Sunday (May 26) was the $15,500 Open Handicap Trot which drew a nice field of eight contenders.

Majestic J got up just in time to win the Open Trot in 1:54.3. Nicole Tate photo.

Coming into the event fresh off a fast 1:54.4 win in a conditioned event a week ago on opening night, Majestic J (Jacob Cutting) was sent off as the 6-5 public choice from post one while Winnerup (Nick Roland) was given a 5-2 chance by the punters while starting from post four.

Winnerup was fastest off the car, quickly establishing command of the affair while Warrawee Whisper (Brady Jenson) and Majestic J landed in behind the leader through the moderate :29 opening quarter. Cutting activated Majestic J to the outside near the three-eighths mark with Yo Lucky Moni joining the flow as they rounded past the half-mile post in :57.4.

Down the backstretch Majestic J drew closer to the leader and began to apply pressure to Winnerup as they headed around the final turn while Yo Lucky Moni jumped it off and Dylan The Great tipped wide from the back near the 1:26 three-quarter checkpoint.

Winnerup continued to trot strong and Majestic J continued to attack through the lane and the pair battled all the way to the wire, stopping the timer at 1:54.3 in a close photo finish while Warrawee Whisper tracked them home from third.

The photo revealed Majestic J (Walner, $4.40) to be the winner by a neck for his second straight win. The 5-year-old stallion is owned by Stephanie Longo and is trained by Elson Miller. He now shows nine career wins and a bankroll of $269,169.

The feature race driving victory completed a triple on the card for Cutting, who also scored with Louis (Muscle Mass, $14.60) in 1:56.3 for Summer Fling Race League and Dave Dobbelmann, and Stormy Wings (Coraggioso, $3.40) in a career best 1:58.3 for owner Brett Boyd Racing. Both of those winners are trained by Darryl Cutting.

The winners in the first leg action of The Banker Volo trotting series were Adira Disa (Brady Jenson, $2.40) in 1:59.4 and Alwaysvoodoomagic (Brandon Jenson, $5.40) in 2:00.4; both winners are trained by Brady Jenson.

Live racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday night (May 28) for the Lakes Center for Youth and Families race night, which offers kid’s and family themed activities and a kid’s slide fidget toy giveaway as well as the Herps Alive interactive reptile display on hand for a second consecutive night. First post is at 6 p.m. (CDT) and the nine-race program will feature a carryover of $4,654.02 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager.