One of the feature events of the Saturday night harness racing program at Running Aces was the $10,000 Winners-over Pace, with a very well matched feild of 6.
Last week's Dan Patch FFA champion Nine Ways (Dean Magee) drew post two in the field, with Dan Patch runner-up Firedrake (Brian Detgen) also in the field from the outside 6 post.
Stuckey Dote, last weeks MN Preferred Pace winner, fired fast from the gate from post five, along with Firedrake surging from the outside spot. Stuckey Dote (Rick Magee) accelerated around the opening turn and Firedrake dropped into the pocket spot as they completed the 27.0 quarter.
Nine Ways got away third but quickly brushed to the lead before the 3/8 pole and controlled the middle fractions in :54.4 and 1:23 before facing heavy pressure from To The Limit (Steve Wiseman) around the final turn.
As the field turned for home they were stacking up five across the racetrack, with Pancetta (James Yoder) and Firedrake widest of all, four heads were battling across the finish line but Stuckey Dote would find room in the passing lane to be the fastest one to the wire, a head in front of To The Limit and the others in 1:51.2 for two wins in a row.
Stuckey Dote ($6.40) is a 5 year old gelding by Voracious Hanover who now sport's 26 lifetime wins and $225,160 in earnings for owner/breeder Merlin Van Oterloo, The winning trainer is Brett Ballinger.
The $11,000 Open Handicap Trot also went to post on Saturday night, with the usual suspects of top trotters lining up in a 5 horse affair. Banker Volo (Rick Magee) was fastest from the gate, posting the quarter fraction in 27.4, before yielding to rival Pridecrest (Steve Wiseman) near the 3/8 marker.
Pridecrest maintained command past the middle checkpoints (:57 and 1:25.3) with no pressure. Banker Volo sat patiently in the pocket and did angle out for the stretch drive, but Pridecrest had plenty in the tank and he trotted strong to the wire, posting a 1 1/4 length tally over Banker Volo, with Al Mar Reba Babe (Gerald Longo) closing sharply for third in the 1:54.4 mile. The victory for the Katleen Plested trainee was number 8 on the season for Pridecrest ($4.20) in 15 starts, and pushed his career earnings to $226,739 for owner Christopher Schick.
Also on Staurday night, the $14,000 Minnesota-Sired 3 year old pacing event went to post, with a full field of 9 going to battle. Ridonkuloso (Steve Wiseman) and Dream Chasin (Williams Hernandez) battled for the early lead, before Frewil Dakota Sven (Brady Jenson) made a sweeping rush to the front in the action-packed contest.
The race set up for closers and race favorite Myskillspaydabills (Rick Magee) relished in the early speed battle (27.2, 55.3 and 1:23.4) and responded late with a big rally from the back of the pack, to sweep by the field and post a half-length win over fast-closing Giggle Monster (Dean Magee). The 1:53 victory was win number 3 on the season for Myskillspaydabills ($3.60) and registered a new lifetime mark for the Voracious Hanover gelding, trained by Rick Magee for the Van Oterloo Stables.
Driver multiples dominated the Saturday card, with Steve Wiseman picking up another four-win night, Rick Magee turning in a Hat-Trick, and James Yoder scoring a double. Trainer Kathleen Plested also had a big night, with 3 winners.
Live Racing continues on a three-nights per week schedule through September 15, with live action on Tuesdays (7:00 pm CDT) and Saturdays and Sundays (6:00 pm CDT).
by Darin Gagne', for Running Aces