from Running Aces Harness Park

Columbus, MN — Lemoyne “Moonie” Svendsen saved his best night for one of the last in the rapidly-concluding summer meet at Running Aces.

Susan Schroeder photo

Nick Roland was presented with the top driver and trainer awards for the 2012 Running Aces meet on Sunday night. Joining in the presentation were former Running Aces driving and training champions. Pictured (left to right) are John De Long, Rick Magee, Dean Magee, Nick Roland, Director of Racing Gregg Keidel, Roland Stable second trainer Jessica Johnson, Tim Maier and Justin Anfinson.

On the second to last program Sunday night (Sept. 2) he drove the winners of both the $10,000 Open Trot and the $10,000 Open Pace. The triumphs brought Svendsen’s total trips to the winner’s circle to 36 in 50 nights of racing, good for a solid sixth place finish in the local dash standings.

Frank’s Best captured the featured trot for the second straight week with Svendsen holding off the impressive 3-year-old Silence Son (Craig Banks) by a length and stablemate Franky Provolone (Steve Wiseman) by just under two lengths. The 1:56.2 clocking was a new lifetime mark for Frank’s Best, now a 26-time winner with a bankroll of $159,628. He is owned by Robert Johnson.

At Last was the Open Pace winner for the fourth time in his last five tries. His 1:53 mile for owner-trainer Mark Anderson was nearly three lengths better than runner-up Gooch’s Bad Boy (Nick Roland) and show finisher Marced Card (John De Long). At Last has now won ten races over the past two years at Running Aces and has 27 career wins and a bankroll of $174,916.

The final program of the 2012 season at Running Aces is Monday night (Sept. 3) with a special 5 p.m. (CDT) post time. It features ten $20,000 Minnesota State Championship races in the various age, sex and gait divisions.