The $12,000 Open Handicap Pace for Horses & Geldings was the Featured event on the Sunday night harness racing program at Running Aces, and the ultra-sharp 5 year old gelding Dry Ice (by Badlands Hanover) posted another impressive win at the top level, with a 1:51.4 score charging home first from the pocket trip.
The Steve Wiseman trainee was sent out sharply from post 7 by Wiseman, and the duo quickly secured the pocket behind Headsup Yankee (Nick Roland) who also fired from post 6. Roland controlled the fractions with his 19-1 longshot, posting up 27.1, 56.0, and 1:23.3 before Dry Ice launched his attack from the pocket, pacing by the pace-setter to register a 2¼ length tally in 1:51.4, a new lifetime mark. Headsup Yankee and Roland held second, while OfficerNagentelman (Tim Maier) checked in third. It was the 19th lifetime win for Dry Ice ($4.20), and padded his career bankroll to $125,625 for his owners A Piece of The Action, LLC.
Dakota Jack and Firedrake once again squared-off in another ding dong battle this night, and after trading blows throughout, Dakota Jack would just out-kick Firedrake to the wire in 1:55.2 this evening, with a ½ length tally, delivering as the favorite and paying a $2.80 mutuel. Dakota Jack picked up his 6th win in 10 starts this year, with Trainer/Driver Steve Wiseman aboard.
Viva La Voracious (by Voracious Hanover) picked up her second impressive win in a row tonight, in a $4,500 conditioned pacing event for trainer Brady Jensen and Driver Jim Marino, she posted a 1 length score in 1:57.3 establishing a new lifetime mark with her 3rd lifetime win for owner Nancy Jenson. She paid $7.80 at the windows.
Driver Steve Wiseman had another huge night at Running Aces, with a Grand Slam on the program, boosting his win total to 63 for the Running Aces season, despite having missed almost 2 weeks at the beginning of the meet due to a back injury, Wiseman has had another terrific summer here in Minnesota.
Running Aces is now Racing 4 nights a week with Live racing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays going to post at 7:00 pm CDT, and Saturdays and Sundays offer a 6:00 pm CDT starting time. The .50 cent late Pick-4 Wager on Tuesday night is Guaranteed at $5,000.00.
By Darin Gagne, Running Aces Track Announcer