from Running Aces

Columbus, MN — Driver Luke Plano captured half of the eight races on the Tuesday night (July 21) program at Running Aces, including a triumph in the night’s featured $8,000 Open Pace.

Leftwich photo

Coopers Beach captured the $8,000 Open at Running Aces Tuesday night in 1:53.1.

Plano worked out an ideal two-hole trip for Coopers Beach as he followed heavily-favored Headsup Yankee (Nick Roland) until the head of the stretch, then held off fellow closers Quality Sport (Tony Succarotte) and It’s Getting Hairy (Gerry Longo) by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.1.

Coopers Beach, a 6-year-old Western Ideal gelding, took a life mark of 1:50.2 at Pompano Park earlier this year, but had been languishing in claiming races at Hoosier Park of late until moving to Running Aces a month ago. Owned by Plano’s mother Maryann and partners John Darrah and Lawrence Keethe, the winner now has two wins in addition to a place and a show finish in his first four starts in Minnesota.

Plano also guided Forceful Gale to an impressive front-stepping 1:57 victory in a $5,500 top conditioned trot, besting Margin Call (Rick Magee) and Evolution Of Dance (Dean Magee). Jeff Brewer trains the winning 6-year-old Strong Gale gelding for owner Ann Wrobbel.

Plano stablemates Stylemaster (1:56.1) and Up Town Watts (1:55.3) copped the final two races on the card, giving Luke four wins on the night and running his total to nine in the last four nights. Stylemaster is owned by Nikki Hudson, while K C Carvalho became the new owner of Up Town Watts via the claim box one week ago.

A single winning 50-cent Pick-6 ticket was sold with the astute handicapper scoring a handsome $1,957.65 return on his half-dollar investment.