Columbus, MN – The Tuesday night (July 7) harness racing program at Running Aces shined the spotlight onto the Minnesota-sired rookie trotters and pacers, with $76,000 in purses across five divisions of freshman events.
In the $16,000 ‘A’ split for pacing fillies, Slipped Onmybeans (by Captainryanmichael) lived up to the hype as the 1-20 favorite and delivered her third career win in four starts while posting a new mark of 1:56.1 over Stormy Shores and Lady Gulf. Dean Magee drove the ($2.10) winner for owner/trainer Scott Banitt.
Captain Ricky (also by Captainryanmichael) ralled late to capture his first pari-mutuel win with a 1:56.4 mile over Bombi and Goodly in the $16,000 male ‘A’ pacers division for owners Alan & Cheryl Sandbulte and Stephanie Anfinson and trainer Justin Anfinson. Casey Leonard was the pilot behind the ($4.80) winner.
Big Keliane (by Big Oil) advanced to 3-for-3 lifetime with a solid one-length tally in the $21,000 trot, with a 2:04.4 mile over Turbo Tinker and Spiceitupwithoil. Nick Roland was in the bike for owners Jay Delong, Ken Stauffer, Stephanie Anfinson and Craig Banks and trainer Justin Anfinson. The win return was $3.20.
The $11,000 ‘B’ pacing division went to Lochloosa (Gulf Shores) in 1:56.4 for trainer/driver Brady Jenson and owner Jeff Fought Racing, returning $8.20 to win players, and the $7,000 ‘C’ pacing division went to Cacheforthedevil (Aracache Hanover) in 1:56.2 with Nick Roland in the bike for owner Kevin Magee and trainer Mikaela Del Giudice. The win return was $3.60.
The $16,000 Open Handicap pace went to Alta Revelry N (Sunshine Beach) who surged from the pocket in the final sixteenth of a mile to get up by a head over heavy favorite Cash Money Twenty in a thrilling photo finish in 1:51.1 for his fourth win of the season. Roland piloted the $11.80 winner for J M F Racing and trainer Luke Plano.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday night (July 9) for an 11-race program that will feature a carryover of $33,883.82 in the 20-cent Jackpot Pick-5 wager, which will get underway in race seven. Post time is set for 6 p.m. (CDT).