Columbus, MN – The Thursday night (June 25) harness racing program at Running Aces featured Minnesota-sired sophomore pacers going for $45,500 across three divisions and they provided fans with some very exciting action.
Starstruck Fool and driver Scott Cisco were recognized by the public as the best in the $17,000 filly division and they were sent off as the 1-5 favorites from post five while Hot Cheddar Flirt (Lemoyne Svendsen) garnered solid support at 3-1 from post seven.
Cisco immediately activated Starstruck Fool and charged out to the early lead while Thiskidcanfly (Nick Roland) and Hotcheddar Flirt also left alertly during the solid :28 opening quarter with Hotcheddar Flirt finding the pocket.
Starstruck Fool was always in control and posted honest middle fractions of :57 and 1:25 while both Mercy (Justin Van Otterloo) and Prone To Wander (Rick Magee) tried bids on the outside.
As they swung for home, Starstruck Fool kept to her task and Hotcheddarflirt surged from the pocket and drifted wide during her stretch rally but was no match for the leader. Thiskidcanfly gamely held third over Prone To Wander.
The victory in 1:54 was a new career mark for Starstruck Fool ($2.40) and was the 10th career tally for the talented and striking daughter of Karpathian Kid. She is owned by Jeralene and Briar Roland and is trained by Dan Roland.
Wild About Me and trainer/driver Nick Roland pulled the upset at 7-1 in the $17,000 colts division with his first win of the season, a career best gate-to-wire score in 1:54.3 over heavy favorite Cool Mr Cool (Casey Leonard) and Luke Skyrocker (Luke Plano).
Roland went right to the front from post six to post a :28.1 opening panel, then stole a :30.1 breather in the second quarter before pacing a back half in :56.1 (:27.1) to secure the victory.
Wild About Me ($17.60) is by Wind Me Up and is owned by Set The Pace Racing and Ken Stauffer.
Swinging On Over (Three Of Clubs) delivered as the 4-5 choice in the $8,500 sophomore ‘B’ division with Adam Hauser in the bike for trainer Justin Anfinson. After winning the early scramble for positions, Swinging On Over ($3.80) was never in doubt and drew away at every call to check home four lengths the best over Al-Mar Easy Does It and Norabelle in a career best 1:57.2 mile.
Casey Leonard led the program with a driving and training triple while Nick Roland posted a driving and training double.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday night (June 28) for a 10-race program which is billed as the annual ‘Horse Racing Celebration night’ with the spotlight shining on racehorse aftercare programs. Both This Old Horse, Inc. and Racehorse Reimagined are the featured programs that will be on-site for the event with sponsored races and opportunities for the public to purchase race packets that will directly benefit the two programs. Sunday also features ‘Pepsi Family Night’ specials and kid’s activities and a plush-horse giveaway.
On the pari-mutuel side, there is a carryover of $23,869 for the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager starting in race six. Post time on Sunday is 6 p.m. (CDT).