Columbus, MN – The Tuesday night (June 26) Harness Racing feature at Running Aces was the $13,000 Mares Open Handicap pace, with a strong field of 8 distaffers squaring off behind the gate.
Gold Star Mysti was the overwhelming public choice after her dominating performance last week, and she was sent off as the 1-5 favorite to repeat.
When the gate wings sprung, it was a mad scramble for the lead, Delightfully Wild (Lemoyne Svendsen) and Abbijade Hanover (Rick Magee) started the initial battle for the lead, but Gold Star Mysti (James Yoder) and Kiss On The Lips (Nick Roland) both quickly chimed in from their outside drawing posts, resulting in a three-wide battle around the first turn, passing the quarter in 27.1.
Gold Star Mysti surged between mares for the lead, then yielded briefly to Kiss On The Lips, before re-taking the top spot just before the half mile marker.
Gold Star Mysti ($2.60) settled in her top spot and was never in doubt, well in command past the 1:24.2 three-quarter check-in and drawing away to a solid 2 length score in 1:52.4 over Delightfully Wild, Whatitdo BabyBoo (Steve Wiseman) and Kiss On The Lips.
The very impressive 5 year old mare by Mysticism now has 3 wins and 1 second in 4 starts this year, she is owned by Gold Star Farms and trained by James Yoder.
Hard Cold Cash (Dean Magee) made it two wins in a row in the $12,500 claiming pace with another dominating performance from gate to wire in 1:52.2 for his 8th win of the season. Hard Cold Cash ($3.80) is a 6 year old stallion by Dali, owned by Antonia Storer and trained by Denise Maier.
Drivers Nick Roland, Dean Magee, Steve Wiseman, and James Yoder all turned in driving doubles on the Tuesday program. Nobody solved the Hi-5 wager in the final race, and there is now $1,567.00 carried over for the Hi-5 on Saturday night June 30, which is T-Shirt giveaway night at Running Aces. All patrons who purchase a live racing program on Saturday will receive a RA 10-year Anniversary commemorative T-shirt. First post on Saturday is 6:00 pm CDT.
by Darin Gagne', for Running Aces