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Tuesday’s (Aug. 6) edition of Racing Roundup features a results story from Running Aces.

Rick Magee wins four at Running Aces, takes dash lead

Columbus, MN — Driver Rick Magee won two races for himself and two for the Van Otterloo Racing Stable on Tuesday night at Running Aces. In the process he surged to a relatively comfortable lead in what has been a very competitive drivers’ standings in 2013.

Dee Leftwich photo

Rick Magee scored one of his four victories on Tuesday with Chewy Baca, who beat Ya U Bet Cha in a $7,000 conditioned pace in 1:52.2.

With 39 of the 53-night meet now completed, Magee has 46 wins. He is followed by Jason Ryan and Nick Roland, each with 40, John DeLong with 35, Luke Plano with 33 and Steve Wiseman, Tim Maier and Lemoyne Svendsen all with 31.

Magee, a 35-year-old reinsman from Wisconsin, was the dash champion at Running Aces in 2009, the second year of the Minnesota track’s existence, and thus seeks his second title. His uncle, Dean Magee, is the only two-time driving champion in the six years of live racing at Running Aces, winning in years three and four.

Al-Mar Passion won a 2-year-old Open Trot in 2:01 to commence Magee’s big night. He owns the freshman son of Abra who won for the fourth time in seven starts. He also reached the winner’s circle with his own Red Star Fiona in a $4,500 claiming event for fillies and mares, although the mare was claimed from the race clocked in 1:56.

The popular local standout Chewy Baca and the ultra-consistent pacing mare Blazing Fury accounted for Magee’s other two scores. For Chewy Baca, the quick 1:52.2 tally in a $7,000 conditioned event was his fourth on the season and 17th lifetime from 54 starts.

Following a rainstorm, Blazing Fury gave Magee his fourth and final score, winning a $5,000 race for females in 1:55.4. It was the 37th win in an illustrious career for the Van Otterloo Stable’s 7-year-old Minnesota-sired stalwart.

David Flinn trains both Chewy Baca and Blazing Fury while racing in Minnesota.

— Running Aces Media Relations