Columbus, MN – The Thursday night (Aug. 14) harness racing program at Running Aces featured Minnesota-sired sophomore pacing action as well as the distaff Open Handicap pace.
Miss May Bell (Karpathian Kid) delivered a breathtaking performance in the final three-eighths of a mile to win by more than nine lengths in the $17,000 filly ‘A’ pace in 1:55.2 for her fifth win in seven career starts.
Driver Brady Jenson floated her away in fifth early and sat patiently through early fractions of :27.2 and :57.1 before making an eye-opening move down the backside that put them on top at the 1:26.2 three-quarters.
From there Miss May Bell ($3.40) drew away with every stride giving her rivals no chance. Skooch’s Valentine (Dean Magee) was the best of the rest and Wisco Half Pint (Luke Plano) checked home in third.
The winner is owned by her breeder, Merlin Van Otterloo, and is trained by Brett Ballinger.
Swinging On By (Karpathian Kid) returned to his winning ways in the $17,000 colts ‘A’ pace, turning in a gate-to-wire effort in 1:55.2 for his fourth tally of the season.
Dean Magee sent him right to the front and they dictated the terms with ease throughout and held to the wire for a three-quarter length score over a fast-closing Wind Me Up Blue (Scott Cisco) with longshot Easy Money Maker (Brian Detgen) getting home in third.
Swinging On By ($5) is owned and trained by Brett Ballinger and also owned by Darren Taylor.
Twist Little Girl N (Mooney Svendsen, $5) recorded her fourth seasonal win in the $15,500 Mares Open Handicap pace, fighting gamely to the wire to hold off a big late challenge by Scorecard Dandy (Dean Magee) by a head in 1:52.1 while Deja Vu Babyboo (Plano) was home third.
The winner is owned by Dave Dobbelmann and Cathy Dessert and is trained by Edwin Quevedo.
Yellowstone Kid (Karpathian Kid) captured the $8,500 sophomore ‘B’ pace in 1:57.1 over Easy Investment and Summer Scandal. Billy Mann was in the bike for owner Ken Stauffer and trainer Justin Anfinson. The win mutuel was $6.40.
Brady Jenson led the program with four driving wins and a training double. Billy Mann drove two winners and trainers Brett Ballinger and Edwin Quevedo both had doubles.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday night (Aug. 17) and will feature the $30,000 Steve Wiseman Memorial Trot with first post set for 6 p.m. (CDT).