Columbus, MN – Minnesota-sired sophomore pacers were in the spotlight on Thursday night (Sept. 4) at Running Aces, with two divisions going for a total purse of $35,000.
Swinging On Over and driver Adam Hauser posted a very impressive career-best 1:53.4 mile to grab the top prize in the $21,000 “A” division as Hauser sent the sharp son of Three Of Clubs into immediate action at the start to get the first call before yielding to race favorite Cool Mr Cool and Casey Leonard just past the :28 quarter mile.
Swinging On Over tracked closely in the pocket through the middle stages of the affair while Diesel Thunder Boy (Rick Magee) was parked and applied heavy pressure to the leader as they recorded splits of :57.1 and 1:25 with CL Dancer (Mooney Svendsen) following cover from fourth.
Swinging On Over was loaded with pace turning for home and Hauser guided him out to the center of the track to surge past the leader in the final yards and post a three-quarters of a length tally over Cool Mr Cool. Hot Cheddar Flirt (Brady Jenson) emerged from the pack late to grab third money over CL Dancer.
Swinging On Over, who returned $23.80 on top, now shows six wins on the season for owners Jay DeLong, Ken Stauffer and Stephanie Anfinson and trainer Justin Anfinson.
Westward Ho, by Western Trademark, and trainer-driver Brady Jenson delivered as the favorites in the $14,000 “B” division with a 1:56 score by one length over Thiskidcanfly and Luke Skyrocker.
Jenson floated wide from post 9 and went after the top just past the quarter-mile, and once on the lead was never in doubt en route to his third win of the season and his fourth career tally. Jenson is also the winning owner, in partnership with Ken Stauffer. The win mutuel was $3.80.
Jenson led the program with four driving wins as well as a training double while Casey Leonard and Luke Plano each posted driving doubles.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday night (Sept. 6) for a 12-race program that will get underway at 6 p.m. (CDT).