by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces Casino & Racetrack

Columbus, MN — Running Aces completed its second session of six qualifying races on Tuesday (May 16).

The standout performance of the day went to Chip Again, a 6-year-old pacing gelding by Intrepid Seelster, who rocketed from last of five to the lead at the three-quarter pole, drawing away from the field with every stride and posting a 5-3/4 length tally in 1:56.4 as the fastest mile of the session. Most impressive were his closing fractions, as he posted a final half of :55.2 and kicked home in :27.1 for driver Nick Roland and owner/trainer Justin Anfinson.

Owner/trainer/driver Jenni King opened up the qualifying card with two sharp wins as she romped with her 4-year-old trotting mare Whatevershesgot (SOS Lunar Eclipse) in 2:02.1. After accelerating on the front past the half-mile pole, she opened up a big lead and widened it to 9-3/4 lengths at the wire, with a :29.1 final stanza.

King posted a similar effort with her 7-year-old trotting gelding French Eclipse, who sat the pocket the first half before taking control and leaving his rivals 7-1/4 lengths behind at the wire in 2:02.2.

Firedrake, a 4-year-old gelding by Dragon Again, who was 50 percent of one of the most exciting rivalries of the 2016 season at Running Aces (with Dakota Jack) left his rivals in his wake as he posted a sharp gate-to-wire score in 1:58.2. After stealing pedestrian early fractions of :30.1 and 1:01.4, he paced home in a solid :56.3 with a :28.2 final quarter. Firedrake is trained and driven by Nick Roland, and owned by Jessica Johnson.

The 3-year-old gelding pacer Okee Dokee (Voracious Hanover) posted a lifetime speed mark of 1:58.2 after parlaying his three-hole trip into a half-length score with driver Moonie Svendsen for trainer David Flinn and the Van Oterloo Stables.

Opening night of the 2017 live racing season is this coming Saturday (May 20) at 6 p.m. (CDT).

This season Running Aces introduces the 20-cent Jackpot Pick-5 wager, with a low 20 percent takeout and a 50 percent split between multiple winner payouts and the jackpot pool. The 20-cent superfectas have also been added this season, and the 50-cent pentafecta (Hi-5) wager returns by popular demand. The Hi-5 will be available in each of the last two races every night.

Live racing will be held every Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 6 p.m. now through Sept. 16.