Columbus, MN — The Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 4) harness racing program at Running Aces was full of sharp performances and winning favorites, but two of those top crowd picks stood out above the rest.

Something To Me and driver Darrell Wright dominated in 1:56.3. Dee Leftwich photo.

The first was Something To Me, a 2-year-old JK Endofanera filly who dazzled the crowd with a front-pacing victory that was nothing short of spectacular as the 6-5 favorite in the $6,000 2-Year-Old Open. Off of a dawdling opening half of 1:00.4, driver Darrell Wright activated his filly into high gear and she took off, throwing down a third panel in :27.4 and final half in :55.4 to draw away by five lengths over May Day Maggie (Rick Magee) in a new lifetime mark of 1:56.3. It was her third career win in five outings for owner and trainer Tony Huffman.

The other standout performance of the day was turned in by one of the most successful trotters to ever step onto the Minnesota oval: the stallion Banker Volo. At age 11, he is racing at the same meet where many of his first crop of freshman offspring are also starting their racing careers. In his fifth trip to the gate of 2020, he and driver Nick Roland dominated a field of conditioned trotters to post a three-length tally in 1:57.3. Banker Volo, who earned his 43rd career win and pushed his bankroll to $487,317, is trained by Jenni King for owner Jeralene Roland.

Driver Nick Roland led the program with a natural hat trick, and Dean Magee scored a driving double. Trainer Jenni King had two winners on the card.

Live racing returns to Running Aces on Saturday (Aug. 8), with first post at 1 p.m. Central and a 50-cent Hi-5 carryover of $4,657.09.