Columbus, MN — Running Aces closed out their 2025 harness racing season with a fantastic Night of Champions on Saturday (September 20). A very large and enthusiastic crowd was on hand to cheer on the top Minnesota-sired trotters and pacers in in the twelve championship events that went for $65,000 each.
Peanutbutterfalcon (Quality Kemp) grabbed the top headline of the night with his 10th straight win, equaling his career best with a 1:57.1 score by one length over chief rival Braggen Bliss (Luke Plano) with longshot Step Machine (Billy Mann) well back in third in the sophomore boys trot. The victory pushed his seasonal earnings to $136,100 which establishes a new state record for single season earnings in the Minnesota program.
Rick Magee was the winning pilot for owner/breeder Jeri Roland and trainer Dan Roland. The $2-win mutuel was $2.20.
Al-Mar Flash Over (Southwind Flash) posted a sensational gate-to-wire effort with Luke Plano in the bike in the freshman filly trot, equaling the track record with a dominating 1:59 score by more than 9 lengths over longshots Wunderfoal (James Kennedy) and Anitra’s Dance (Scott Cisco).
The winner now shows eight wins from 9 outings for owners Tom and Kathy Shipley and Royal Roland and trainer Nick Roland. The win mutuel was $2.20.
I’m A Skoldier (Wind Me Up) pulled a mild upset in the aged male pacing division, posting the fastest mile of the night in 1:52.2 for a new career mark. Trainer/Driver Luke Plano sent his 5-year-old gelding right to the front and they never looked back through fractions of :27.3, :56.1, and 1:23.3. Spiritofanoutlaw (Brady Jenson) was home a game second and Alilthundadownunda (Brian Detgen) completed the trifecta.
The winner is also owned by Plano in partnership with Dave Haness. The victory pushed his career earnings over the $250k mark. The win mutuel was $14.80.
Baby Flash (Southwind Flash) delivered as the big favorite in the older mares trotting division with a career best 1:55.1 mile with Mooney Svendsen in the bike. It was an extra meaningful win for Svendsen as the race was named in honor of both him and his late father as members of the Minnesota harness racing Hall of Fame (inducted together in 2014).
Baby Flash ($2.40) led every step of the affair and held on gamely by a neck against chief rival Wilamar Spark (Rick Magee) at the wire, with Chicora (Scott Cisco) home in third.
Rick Huffman is the winning trainer of the 4-year-old and also owns in partnership with Keith Wilson and Brenda Lovetinsky.
Miss May Bell (Karpathian Kid) dominated the sophomore filly pace division, going gate-to-wire in a career best 1:54.2 mile over longshots Skooch’s Valentine (Svendsen) and Mele Kalikimaka (Rick Magee) for her eighth win from 10 career starts for owner/breeder Merlin Van Otterloo and trainer Brett Ballinger. It was a special win for driver Brady Jenson who was victorious in the race named after his late grandfather Jack Budahn. The win mutual was $2.10.
Fillister Photo (Easy Again) won the older mares pacing division championship for the second straight year, posting a one length tally in 1:53.4 over a very game Apple Juice (Cisco) with Deja Vu Babyboo (Rick Magee) home in third. Billy Mann was the winning pilot for owner Scorpio Stable and trainer Bob Lems. The win mutuel was $5.60.
The other Championship winners were:
Starstruck Fool (Karpathian Kid, $3.80) with driver Scott Cisco in the freshman filly pace in 1:57.1 for trainer Jessie Pacheco.
Iron Sharpens Iron (Banker Volo, $15.60) in the aged male trot in 1:57 with driver Rick Magee in the bike for trainer Dan Roland.
Set Free (Three Of Clubs, $3.60) in the freshman male pace in 1:54.3 with pilot Rick Magee for trainer Justin Anfinson.
Wind me Up Blue (Wind me Up, $3.40) in the sophomore male pace in a career best 1:53.2 with Scott Cisco in the bike for trainer Rick Cisco.
It’s Gonna Be Mae (Lear Jetta, $10.60) in 1:59.2 in the sophomore filly trot with Sean Smithpeters in the bike for owner/trainer/breeder Alexia Kehl.
SV Rough And Tough (Tom Ridge, $6.20) with Dean Magee driving for trainer Jason Telfer.
Rick Magee led the program with 3 driving wins, while Luke Plano and Scott Cisco both had driving doubles and trainer Dan Roland also sent out two winners.
Brady Jenson took home the titles as both the 2025 leading driver (87 wins) and the 2025 leading trainer (53 wins). This is the second straight year that Jenson has captured both meet titles.