by Darin Gagne, Running Aces track announcer

Columbus, MN — The Tuesday night (May 24) card at Running Aces featured the return of Party Hangover Two for the $11,000 Mares Open in race three.

Since she had dominated the Open-level pacing mares here in 2015, fans were certainly aware of her capabilities, and sent her off as the 7-5 choice.

Driver Lemoyne (Moonie) Svendsen found four other mares leaving sharply from the gate and opted to take Party Hangover Two to the back of the pack through the blistering :26.4 opening quarter, then decided to get the party started by brushing last-to-first at the three-eighths pole and taking firm control from there.

Party Hangover Two led through middle panels of :57 and 1:25.2 before pacing home in :29.3, gamely holding off a strong late charge from Flick A Fly (Rick Magee) and stopping the clock in 1:55, with Just One More (Jim Marino) finishing third.

The victory was her fifth tally in six starts this year, as the razor-sharp 5-year-old mare by Party At Artsplace-Maura Hanover now sports a bankroll of $130,836 from her 52 lifetime starts. She paid $4.80 to win to her many backers.

Party Hangover Two is owned by Kathy Plested, Barbara and Donald Arnstine, and Stephen Chambers, and she is conditioned by Steve Wiseman.

Veteran driver Brian Detgen had a big night, picking up wins with his own pacing mare Captiva Bounty in 1:55.2 ($12.60), the trotter Dapper Dan in 2:01.4 ($8.40) for owner/trainer Dave Carter and completing the hat trick by capturing the finale with Ya Yu Betcha in 1:54.2 ($5.00) for owner/trainer Wendy Haberberg.

The next card of live harness racing at Running Aces Casino & Racetrack will go to post on Saturday night (May 28) at 6 p.m. (CDT), with a carryover in the 50-cent Jackpot Pick-6 wager of $919.85.