Columbus, MN — The Thursday night (June 2) feature at Running Aces saw a compact but talented field of five top level pacing mares square off for the weekly $16,500 Mares Open Handicap Pace.

Gottalovemyshadow (Nick Roland) was sent off as the 8-5 public choice from post four and got away quickly in second before making an early move around last week’s winner Shesureissomething (Rick Magee) to establish control just past the quarter.

Rockin With Lou posted a dazzling first-over win in the Aces feature. Tim Davis photo.

The early pace was tepid (:28.4 and :58.4) and Rockin With Lou and driver Dean Magee were anxious to get moving from the back of the field. Magee launched a first-over attack just past the half-mile juncture that resulted in a good battle into the far turn and a :27.4 third panel. The top pair continued to slug it out into the homestretch while Shesureissomething was a close third.

Rockin With Lou ($5.60) grinded out a half-length victory over Gottalovemyshadow in 1:55 for her ninth win of the season and her 25th career triumph. The winner is a 5-year-old daughter of Sweet Lou and is owned and trained by Gerald Longo.

Give Me This Dance made it two in a row and nine wins on the year with a sharp 1:56.2 tally in the $16,500 Minnesota-sired sophomore filly pace over good efforts by Kitty Wampus (Mooney Svendsen) and Anotherblazinwoman (Luke Plano).

There was never an anxious moment for the daughter of Wind Me Up who was piloted by Dean Magee and delivered as the heavy favorite for a $2.60 win mutuel. The Justin Anfinson trainee is owned by her breeders, Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte.

Rick Magee picked up the win in the $16,500 colts and geldings division with his very own pacer Antetokounmpo (Easy Again) who absolutely dominated the event with a 1:55.2 career best mile for his third career win. Big Rusty (Elvin Zimmerman) proved second best and Night King (Nick Roland) rallied for third in the early non-betting affair.

The second leg of the Burning Blaze pacing series was also contested, with a field of seven going to post for the $7,000 event. Search The Sea was the overwhelming 1-20 favorite in the contest and the 3-year-old son of Downbytheseaside did not disappoint his backers as he easily dominated the affair.

Trainer/driver Brady Jenson sent him quickly from the gate from post five and had no trouble establishing command. Big longshots Headlining (Rick Magee) and Lion Virgin (Gary Rath) played follow the leader as the top choice posted quite ordinary fractions of :28.4, :59 and 1:28. Snoah (Svendsen) made a late-race rally from mid-pack and was able to pick up the pieces for second over Lion Virgin in the 1:57.2 mile.

Search The Sea now shows two wins in a row for owners Theresa O’Connell and Michael Rabida and will likely be a big favorite for the series finale next week.

Drivers Luke Plano and Rick Magee led the Thursday program with three wins, while Dean Magee posted a double. Rick Magee also registered two training wins on the card.

Live racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday (June 5) and will feature a carryover of $13,522.50 in the Pick-5 Jackpot wager, as well as a $5,000 guaranteed pool in the Late Pick-4 pool. Pepsi Family Night is featured every Sunday and the first race will get underway at 7 p.m. (CDT).