The featured event on the Tuesday night (August 29) harness racing program at Running Aces was the $11,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace, and it would prove to be a race for the ages.
The contest drew a field of 8 talented distaffers, and it was an exciting battle from the word go. Cruzin Coco (Dean Magee) got the first call off the gate from post six but Kiss On The Lips (Nick Roland) was in immediate attack mode and swept by for the front end position, with heavy favorite Gold Star Mysti (J.D. Yoder) also leaving from outside post 8 and ducking for ealry cover at the pylons in fourth during the 28.2 opening stanza.
Yoder did not sit for long with the favorite as he was out and moving first-over with Gold Star Mysti well before the three-eighths pole, and drew right along side the front runner before the 57.1 half mile.
From there it was an epic contest as Kiss On The Lips and Gold Star Mysti were locked in battle looking each other in the eye with every stride, Gold Star Mysti would put a nose on top and Kiss On The Lips would surge right back on the inside, as they passed three-quarters in 1:25 with the rest of the field stacked up two and three-wide behind them.
Turning for home- it appeared, for a fleeting moment that Gold Star Mysti might just clear past her tough as nails rival, but Kiss On The Lips would have no part of that, as she again dug in gamely and the two mares fought in lock-step stride all the way to the wire, stopping the teletimer in 1:53.
Both horses displayed a tremendous amount of heart and determination, and both drivers exemplified the epitome of skill and horsemanship to keep their charges live and game to the finish. They hit the wire locked in even stride, like an amazing three-dimensional image.
Neither Mare deserved to lose on this night, but Kiss On The Lips ($20.80) had a whisker in front on the wire to score her 6th win of the season and 26th lifetime victory and push her career bankroll to $151,886. The talented 7 Year daughter of Dontgetinmyway is owned by Peg Hoffman, and trained by John Rogers.
The $13,000 Minnesota-Sired 2 Year old Trot went to Stone Cold Stunner ($19.20) with Steve Wiseman in the sulky for trainer Justin Anfinson and owners Jesse, Eric and Benjamin De Long. The 2:02 clocking was a new mark, and the fourth lifetime win for the gelding by Money Talks.
The $8,000 Minnesota-Sired 2 Year old geldings Pace event went to Giggle Monster ($2.80) in 1:55.3 with Dean Magee driving for trainer Denise Maier and owners Alan & Cheryl Sandbulte. The Wind Me Up gelding has now won 7 of 8 lifetime races.
The $8,000 Minnesota-Sired 2 Year old fillies contest went to Ellamenopee ($3.60) in 1:57.3 with Steve Wiseman at the controls for trainer Brett Ballinger and owner Merlin Van Oterloo.
Driver Steve Wiseman picked up another Hat-Trick on Tuesday, and Joe Casagranda scored a double on the card.
Live Racing continues 3 nights a week, on Tuesday, Saturday and Sundays through September 16.
By Darin Gagné, Running Aces Track Announcer