Columbus, MN — Running Aces hosted a nine-race program on Friday night (Sept. 18) to kick off its Champions Weekend, which closes out the 2026 season at the Minnesota oval.
Alta Revelry N, by Sunshine Beach, was a gate-to-wire winner in the co-featured $30,000 Open Handicap Pace, posting a sharp 1:51.1 mile for his seventh win of the year with Cash Money Twenty (driven by Dean Magee) closing from last to nose out Dandy’s Freedom (Casey Leonard) for second.
Luke Plano is the winning trainer/driver for owner J M F Racing. The $8.60 winner now shows 35 career wins and total earnings of $440,932.
Swan Jefe, by Swan For All, delivered a sharp closing effort over 1-1/4 miles for a 2:26.1 win — the seventh of his career — in the $30,000 Open Trot. Rick Magee was the winning pilot for owners Jay and John DeLong and trainer Justin Anfinson. Swan Jefe was the longest shot on the board at 15-1 and paid $32.20 to win while All Champy (Nick Roland) and Escaper (Josiah Miller) completed the trifecta.
The Minnesota-sired Consolation events went to Cowboying Dan (Adam Hauser, $3) in 1:57.4; Fancy Gulf Photo (Leonard, $17.80) in 2:00.2; Arts Finale (Magee, $17.80) in 1:56; Just Like Gotti (Brady Jenson, $3.40) in 1:57; and Overtheedgeofhonor (Roland, $6.40) in 1:54.3.
Drivers Casey Leonard, Rick Magee and Nick Roland and trainer Justin Anfinson all posted doubles, while Leonard also had two training wins.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Saturday night (Sept. 19) for the Minnesota Night of Champions program, which features $780,000 in purses and mandatory payouts in all pools.