by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces
Columbus, MN — The Saturday night (June 30) program at Running Aces was filled with impressive performances and fast miles, but the $11,000 featured Open Handicap trotters stole the show, with a thrilling contest and a sparkling new track record.
Dee Leftwich photo
Pridecrest sets a new track record of 1:53.4 on Saturday at Running Aces.
The razor sharp mare Silverlode (Lemoyne Svendsen) fired fast from her outside post six, with the super stallion Banker Volo (Rick Magee) surging fast from the next door spot and these two squared off early. Magee yielded to let Silverlode cut the speedy fractions of :27.2, :55.4 and 1:24, while Pridecrest (Steve Wiseman) settled away in pylon position third. Silverlode held the field at bay, until Banker Volo angled to the outside just before turning for home.
Banker Volo and Silverlode were in deep battle as they straightened, but Pridecrest began his own attack along the inside, and Silverlode could not fend off the barrage from both sides. It was down to Banker Volo and Pridecrest with 100 yards to go, Pridecrest took a slight advantage along the inside. Banker Volo tried again with a desperate lunge right on the line. It would not be enough, as Pridecrest got his nose to the wire first. The teletimer read 1:53.4, to record the fastest trotting mile in the history of Minnesota and Running Aces. The previous record (1:54.1) had been established almost exactly one year ago by Banker Volo.
Pridecrest is a 6-year-old gelding by Angus Hall out of the Westgate Crown mare Spilled Milk, he now has 24 career wins and earnings of $214,779. Pridecrest ($6.20) is owned by Christopher Schick and trained by leading Trainer Kathleen Plested.
Also on the Saturday program, Dream Chasin completed a three-race win streak by capturing the $10,200 Minnesota-sired 3-year-old pace class-A, in a lifetime best mile of 1:53.3 with driver Nick Roland aboard for owners Michelle and Gregory Budach. Dream Chasin ($4.20) dominated the affair from gate-to-wire.
The $6,800 class-B division went to Frewil Dakota Sven ($2.80), who picked up his first win of the season with a lifetime best mile in 1:54.1 for trainer/driver Brady Jenson and owners Brian and Kim Larson.
Driver Steve Wiseman had another big night, winning half the races on the card with his grand-slam. Wiseman also completed the sweep of the late Pick-3.
Live racing continues at Running Aces on Sunday (July 1), with first post at 6 p.m. CDT with a $7,500 guarantee in the 50-cent late Pick-4 wager, and The Dan Patch FFA eliminations are just one week away, on Sunday (July 8).