Columbus, MN – The featured harness racing event on Tuesday night (Sept. 11) at Running Aces was the $11,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace, with the top two pacing mares of the season squaring off one last time in the final week of the 2018 meet.
Kiss On The Lips (Dean Magee) charged fastest from the gate from post five to open up the mile in :27 flat, with Gold Star Mysti (James Yoder) floating away from the gate with speed as well and sweeping to the lead just before the three-eighths pole.
Gold Star Mysti led comfortably from there and posted a half in :55.4 and three-quarter time of 1:24.4 before kicking home with a strong final stanza of :28.2 to maintain a solid 1 ½ length margin at the wire in 1:53.1 over Kiss On The Lips and Totally Racy (Steve Wiseman).
Gold Star Mysti ($2.80) now has seven wins in thirteen trips to the gate this season, while bankrolling $52,250 for owners Gold Star Farm and trainer Margaret Audley.
Pridecrest is also wrapping up his Aces season in style, rolling to his fourth straight win while capturing the $11,000 featured trot. After floating away in the outside flow from post six, Pridecrest (Steve Wiseman) watched Windsun Galaxie (Dean Magee) and Ideal Jesse (James Yoder) engage in early battle for the lead before sweeping by just past the 3/8 marker.
Pridercrest was well in hand from there and delivered as the big favorite for his twelfth win in 20 starts this year, with a 2 ½ length score over Ideal Jesse and Let's Be Honest (Lemoyne Svendsen) in 1:55.3. Pridecrest ($2.10) is owned by Christopher Schick and trained by leading trainer Kathleen Plested-Wiseman.
The 20 cent Pick-5 Jackpot carryover has swelled to $41,769.84 for this coming Saturday night (Sept. 15) and there is also a carryover in the 50 cent Early Pick-4 wager of $1,355.86 for the "Night of Champions Program" on Saturday.
Total purses will approach $400,000 making it the richest night of Harness Racing in Minnesota history. The evening will also offer fans plenty of chances to win Hats, Tee Shirts, Betting Vouchers and other prizes, as well as a Live Broadcast of the card with NAHUpicks.com and Live Music from Jake Nelson.
By Darin Gagne', for Running Aces