by Darin Gagne, Track Announcer at Running Aces

Colombus, MN — The $353,300 Night of Champions Program closed out the 2017 Live Harness Racing season at Running Aces Casino & Racetrack in Minnesota on Saturday night (Sept. 16) with another fantastic and enthusiastic live crowd on hand for the final event of the season.

The championship races kicked off early with three 2-year-old trotting filles squaring off for a $35,000 purse in the first of two non wagering events. Dekker (Rick Magee) picked up her first lifetime win in the contest with a 2:04.2 victory by 1-1/2 lengths over The Sweetest Thing (Dean Magee) and Floatinonthebreeze (Jenni King). Dekker is a filly by Braggart, and is trained by Justin Anfinson for owners Jesse, Eric and Benjamin De Long.

Running Aces photo

There was a large crowd to witness the Minnesota Night of Champions.

In the other non-bettor race, It’s Stormin Money made it two wins in a row to take the winner’s prize in the $35,000 3-year-old filly trot championship in 2:02.1 Steve Wiseman was at the controls for owner Bryce Jenson and trainer Brady Jenson. The victory tonight was a 13-1/2 length romp over Ritchess Brandy (Brady Jenson) and Imapixieatmidnight (Nick Roland).

Bragginade ($4.60) took the $35,000 2-year-old geldings trot championship, with a dominating gate-to-wire victory by 2-1/4 lengths in 2:04 with trainer/driver Nick Roland in the sulky. It was the sixth victory in nine starts for the son of Braggart, who is owned by Set The Pace Racing, LLC. Bringoverthemoney (Rick Magee) picked up second, and Stonecold Stunner (Steve Wiseman) was home in third.

Bertha Vanation ($21.60) pulled the 9-1 upset in the $35,000 2-year-old filly pace championship with an aggresive drive by Dean Magee. The filly by Voracious Hanover was part of the early battle for command but settled away in fourth before sweeping to the lead just after the quick :28.1 quarter. Bertha Vanation faced some heavy pressure around the final turn from Aint No Uppy Girl (Rick Magee), but was able to turn back that cahllenge, and dig in gamely to the wire as favorite Ellamennopee (Steve Wiseman) was roaring down the inside. Bertha Vanation held on for a neck victory in a lifetime best mile of 1:56 for trainer Joel Mc Danel and owner John Hendricks.

Dream Chasin ($11.00) converted the pocket trip into his first lifetime win to take the championship in the $35,000 2-year-old gelding pace in 1:58.1. Rick Magee was in the sulky for Michelle & Gregory Budach, over favorite Watchmeneighneigh (James Yoder) and pace-setter Here Comes Teddy (Nick Roland). The winner is a son of Fancy Schmansy.

Al Mar Foxyeclipse ($6.40) took top honors in the $35,000 3-year-old trot championship event, posting his fifth lifetime tally with a new mark of 2:01.4 this evening with Dean Magee in the sulky for trainer Joel Mc Danel and owner Mark Holtan. Liquor’skwikker (James Yoder) checked in second, while Al Mar Country-Luv (Rick Magee) was home in third.

Whatitdo Babyboo ($4.00) delivered as the public’s choice in the $35,000 3-year-old filly pace, scoring her 14th lifetime win, and seventh win of the season in 1:56 with driver Steve Wiseman aboard for trainer Brett Ballinger and owners Van Oterloo Stables. Follwing her signature racing style, Whatitdo Babyboo was unhurried in the early stages of the affair, away in sixth position from post seven, but was out and moving first-over just before the half-mile juncture. Wiseman had his filly in perfect striking position as they turned for home and she paced strong through the lane to take the lead and post a half-a-length victory over a tough pace-setter Exsqueezeme (Nick Roland), with Swinging Again (James Yoder) back in third.

Twenty-one-year old trainer/driver Brady Jenson pulled off a rare feat in the $35,000 championship for 3-year-old pacing geldings, he sent out a pair of trainees in the contest, and picked up the top two positions at the wire in a 10- horse field. Jenson steered Marktentwentyseven to victory over stablemate Too Much Too Quick driven by Nick Roland. Both horses are owned by the Jenson family, with Brandon, Natalie Rae & Larry Jo being the owners of the winner. The pair of sophomore pacers were both away near the back of the pack, and took full benefit of the fast fractions up front (:27.4, :56, and 1:24) and were both charging three-and-four wide turning for home. With a sixteenth of a mile to go, it was clear that a Jenson trainee was going to be the winner, the only question was: which one. Marktentwentyseven ($33.40) was closing widest of all, and fastest of all – to get up for the three-quarter length victory in a new lifetime mark of 1:55.4. The winning gelding is by Up Front Brad.

Pa’s Corn Squeezin ($23.60) pulled off yet another upset on the evening, in the $17,500 4-year-olds & up mares pace championship. Nick Roland did the steering for trainer Timothy Brown and owner Dave Haness. The pocket-rocket style victory in 1:55.2 was win number five on the season for the 5-year-old daughter of General Aidid. American Dancer (James Yoder) was just a neck back in second, and favorite Cruzin Coco (Dean Magee) was third best after cutting the mile.

The $25,000 4-year-olds and older trotting championship went to Mr Jackpot, for his second career championship, in 1:57.2. Dean Magee was in the sulky for proud owners Marlene and Jodi Wilson and trainer Glen Wilson. Mr Jackpot ($26.60) is a 4-year-old gelding by Money Talks, and tonight’s vicory was career tally number ten. Whatevershesgot (Lemoyne Svendsen) was second, and race favorite Becky Badger Baby (Nick Roland) was home in third tonight.

The final championship event, and final race of the 2017 season, was the $17,500 4-year-olds and older pace, with a well matched field of ten. The night and the season closed out with another upset winner,as SwagasaurusRex and Minnesota Harness Racing Hall of Fame member and driver Lemoyne “Mooney” Svendsen got up for a triumphant victory, worthy of a whip raised to the skies at the wire by Svenden.

SwagasaurusRex ($40.80) started from post 10 in the second tier, and was well off the pace early. Svendsen had him in motion and in the flow going into the final turn, and was in striking position turning for home, taking a seam right down the middle of the track to draw away from the field by two lengths in 1:53.1 to post the fastest mile of the night and take a new lifetime mark.

SwagasaurusRex is a 4-year-old gelding by Voracious Hanover, and he is trained by Dean Magee for owner Richard Davelaar. Gravelsinmytravel (Dean Magee) was home second, completing the trainer one-two punch yet again on this historic night, and Stuckey Dote (Nick Roland) was third