The Saturday night harness racing program at Running Aces played host to the Minnesota-Sired 3 year old Pacers for an early $6,500 event, and it would prove to be a race well worth watching. Steve's Hot Rod, a gelding by Voracious Hanover posted a sharp display of his speed and talent with a gate-to-wire romp in 1:51.4 to establish a new track mark for 3 year old gelding pacers, a record that had stood for more than 5 years, since Chewy Baca (Rick Magee) stopped the clock in 1:52.1 in July of 2012.
Trainer/Driver Rick Magee confidently sent Steve's Hot Rod quickly from the gate to a fast early lead, and was well in control past the 28.0 quarter mile post. "Stevie" and Rick controlled every step from there with ease, and they were never in doubt, coasting past the half in 56.2, and turning back a bid by Whatitdo Babyboo (Steve Wiseman) near the 1:24 three-quarter clocking, after a fast third quarter of 27.3, Steve's Hot Rod made it crystal clear around the final turn that there would be nobody going past him on this night, he was strictly in a race against the clock.
They thundered down the homestretch and stopped the teletimer at 1:51.4 to take their place in the record books, with a sparkling and dominating performance. DeweyDidDoneGood (Dean Magee), who sat the pocket the entire way, picked up second by 1 3/4 lengths, with Whatitdo BabyBoo home in third.
Steve's Hot Rod is owned by Kati Sokolowski, and now has 7 wins in 28 lifetime starts, and earnings of $52,686.
The featured event of the Saturday card was the $12,000 Open handicap Trot, with a full field of nine talented square-gaiters going to battle. Banker Volo was returning from a 4 race stint in Illinois and Indiana, and upon his return to Running Aces he made it well apparent that he indeed was still the reigning king of trotting at the Minnesota oval.
Driver Luke Plano sent Banker Volo ($4.40) fast from the assigned outside 9 post, and had no trouble establishing the immediate lead. They strolled through fractions of 28.1, 57.3 and 1:26.1 and never had a challenger at their wheel, completing the dominating gate-to-wire score with a 29.2 final stanza to stop the clock in 1:55.3, 2 1/4 lengths ahead of the nearest rival.
For Banker Volo it was win number 8 in 13 tries this season, with 7 of those wins right here at Running Aces. The superstar Stallion trotter has now bankrolled a tad under $50,000 this season, and over $335,000 lifetime. Banker Volo is owned by Daniel Roland, and is currently trained by Angie Coleman.
Drivers Steve Wiseman and Luke Plano both completed Hat-Tricks on the Saturday program, with 3 wins each, and Rick Magee completed a driving double as well.
Live Racing at Running Aces continues through September 16, on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
By Darin Gagne, Running Aces Track Announcer