Columbus, MN – The Tuesday night (August 26) harness racing program at Running Aces featured an Open Handicap Pace with a field of eight lining up behind the gate to battle it out for a $15,500 purse.
He’zzz A Wise Sky (Dean Magee) was the 3-5 public choice from post eight while Speaking Volumes (Rick Magee) was sent off as the second choice at 5-1 on the board and started from post six.
When the wings of the gate folded, Tankalicious (Scott Cisco) got the first call and led in the opening stages before Speaking Volumes charged up to take the top near the :27 quarter with He’zzz A Wise Sky immediately up to challenge the new leader.
He’zzz A Wise Sky took over and was settled on the lead at the :55.3 halfway point with Speaking Volumes relegated to the pocket and Tankalicious traveling in third.
Down the backside, Mac’s Marvel (Williams Hernandez) launched a first-over bid and quickly advanced from sixth to third to apply mild pressure to the leaders as they completed three panels in 1:24.1.
He’zzz A Wise Sky was nearly two lengths clear at the top of the lane and was still pacing strongly while Speaking Volumes shook free from the pocket to come after the leader.
Inside the final sixteenth of a mile, Speaking Volumes began to close in rapidly, and the top two battled stride for stride to the wire in a thrilling finish in 1:52.
After close examination of the photo finish, the judges were unable to separate Speaking Volumes ($4.00) and He’zzz A Wise Sky ($2.20) and that pair was three lengths clear of Mac’s Marvel and Tankalicious.
The dead heat win completed a driving triple for both Rick Magee and Dean Magee.
Speaking Volumes is a 5-year-old son of Artspeak and is owned by Little Bapa and trained by Brady Jenson.
He’zzz A Wise Sky is an 8-year-old son of Yankee Skyscraper and is owned by Triple Zzz Stable and trained by John Filomeno.
The other multi-race winners on the card included Brady Jenson, with a driving and training double, and trainers Maria Alvarez and Edwin Quevedo, who each had doubles.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday night (Aug. 28) with a 10-race program that will get underway at 6 p.m. (CDT).