The featured event on the Tuesday night (Aug 1) harness racing card at Running Aces was the $10,000 Open Handicap Trot, and it was the 3 year old colt by Jailhouse Jesse who stole the show, getting up in the final stride to win by a head in 1:56.3. Ideal Jesse ($3.60) is no stranger to success at Running Aces, as the talented youngster set a track record of 1:56.1 for 3 year old colt trotters back in june. In tonight's contest, Owner/Trainer/Driver James Yoder guided the colt away from the gate into the pocket position from post five in the field of six, and waited patiently for some room in the open stretch to get up at the wire to defeat the front runner Natural Forces (Dean Magee). Ideal Jesse is also owned by Jesse Yoder, and he now sports 7 lifetime wins in 24 starts, and has bankrolled $51,680.
The $8,000 Two year old Open pace went to heavy favorite Giggle Monster ($3.20) with Dean Magee in the sulky for Trainer Denise Maier and Owners Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte. Giggle Monster was wide in the early stages from post 8 while working to the lead, he cleared just past the 1/4 pole and was never in doubt from there, posting a 1 1/2 length win in 1:58. The very sharp gelding by Wind Me Up has now won 4 of 5 lifetime races and $20,900.
The $13,000 Minnesota-Sired 2 year old Trot went to The Sweetest Thing (Dean Magee), a filly by Money talks who picked up her first career victory after the original winner Bragginade (Luke Plano) was disqualified for failure to maintain the proper gait. The Sweetest Thing ($47.40) is owned and trained by Alexia Kehl, and she trotted the mile in 2:03.1.
Two drivers dominated the proceedings on Tuesday night, with Dean Magee capturing 4 of the first 5 races to post a Grand Slam, and Steve Wiseman sweeping the last 4 races on the card to post his 3rd Grand Slam in the last two weeks of racing.
Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Saturday, August 5 with a first post of 6:00 pm CDT and a carryover in the .20 cent Jackpot Pick 5 wager of $24,013.49.
By Darin Gagne, Running Aces Track Announcer