from Running Aces Harness Park

Columbus, MN — A field of nine green fillies and mares lined up for the $8,500 championship final of the month-long Future Stars late-closing series for distaff pacers on Wednesday night (July 14) at Running Aces, and when the dust settled it was Sneakin To Town who snuck out with the lion’s share of the purse via a neck victory in 1:58.1.

The lukewarm favorite sat chilly in the pocket throughout and found a clear path midstretch for driver John DeLong, darting past pacesetting GE’s Kay (Adam Short) in the final strides. The winning 3-year-old by Ideal Towne is owned by DeLong’s father Jesse and brother Austin Patrick. She had a win and two narrow runner-up finishes in the preliminary legs to set up the showdown with the place finisher, who had two wins in the prelims. Fancy Too (Rick Magee) was another 1-1/2 lengths back to snare the show dough.

The weekly $7,500 Fillies and Mares Open Pace was also contested on the Wednesday program with Castle Oaks (Daniel Maier) winning for the third time in five weeks over Princess Zoie (DeLong) and One More Molly (Tim Maier). The winning Hi Ho Silverheel’s 4-year-old, bred and owned by Alan Kirschenbaum, recently surpassed the $100,000 career earnings plateau.

Leading driver Dean Magee won three of the nine races, giving him 33 wins in the first 26 nights of the 51-night Running Aces meet.