The $11,000 Open Handicap Trot was the Featured event on the Saturday night harness racing program at Running Aces, and Track Record holder Banker Volo ($3.20) was back in racing action, after taking a stint as Equine Ambassador on Family Day at the Track last Sunday, when he provided jog cart rides to lucky and adoring fans.
Tonight would prove to be no walk in the park for the very talented, and heavily favored Banker Volo, as he would wind up hung every step of the mile from post 6 in the six horse contest. When the gates swung open tonight there would be a mad scramble for the lead, and the first lead belonged to Explosive Muscles (Gerald Longo) who had charged out from post 4 to lead at the 28.0 quarter pole, then the battle continued and the lead would go to Flameon with Dean Magee, who cleared and was immediately challenged by Banker Volo and Nick Roland who had left sharply from post 6 and was now caught in a heavyweight battle as Flameon would not concede through the middle half of 56.3, and ¾ time of 1:25.2.
Though that duo were noticeably tiring from the epic duel, they continued to fight on in the stretch, and Banker Volo dug down deep to Take the winner’s prize, out-kicking Flameon to the wire (third) and holding off a fast charging Big Expense (Mooney Svendsen) who was home in second in 1:56.3.
Banker Volo now sports 8 wins in 10 starts this year and $270,043 for Owners Daniel and Jeralene Roland.
The nightcap $4,800 Trotting event was a thrilling event that would be decided by just a neck at the wire, with Amped Up Hanover (Dean Magee) looking to wire the field off fractions of 29.1, 58.2 and 1:27.0 he would face a furious stretch battle from Cantoria (Steve Wiseman) who tried valiantly to get by from three-hole trip, but just fell short at the line in 1:57.3 as Amped Up Hanover ($9.20) picked up his second win in 15 starts this season, for Owners A Piece of The Action and Trainer Tim Maier.
Tonight at Running Aces we also remembered the late Charlie Hare with race 4 named in his memory, Charlie was a Minnesota resident and lifelong friend of both Gerald Longo and John Rogers, and in fact worked in the Gerald Longo stable every year here at Running Aces. On hand in The Winner’s Circle for the Memorial were many of Charlie’s friends, fellow horsemen and Family, including his Son and Daughter, Nephews and Grand-daughters and Great-grand-daughters. Flick A Fly ($3.80) won the Memorial race, a Fillies & Mares conditioned pace, in 1:54.3 with Driver Rick Magee.
Drivers Rick Magee and Dean Magee both pulled off the Hat-Trick this evening with 3 wins apiece, while Nick Roland drove 2 winners for a double.
The next card of Live Harness Racing Action at Running Aces will go to post on Sunday, August 14, at 6:00 pm CDT.
By Darin Gagne, Running Aces Track Announcer