The $12,000 Open Handicap Trot was the featured event on the Saturday night Harness Racing Card at Running Aces, and the very sharp 6 year old gelding Flameon (by Angus Hall) picked up his eighth win of the year in just his 13th start, by posting a dominant performance in the contest.
It was a 3-wide early battle for the lead, and Flameon with driver Dean Magee charged through the middle of two rivals to take command of the field just before the 28.0 quarter mile, he then benefitted from a 30.0 second stanza and led through the rest of the fractions of 58.0 and 1:26.4 before trotting home in 29.1 to secure the win over a hard charging pocket-sitter Big Expense (Mooney Svendsen) and longshot Where’s The Clicker (Brian Detgen) was third in the 1:56 mile. Flameon is owned and Trained by Mark Anderson, and now sports a 2016 bankroll of $39,310. He paid $10.60 at the windows.
In the $6,000 Minnesota-Sired B Pace for $6,000 Cyrax (by Intrepid Seelster) with Brian Detgen in the sulky posted another impressive win, lowering his lifetime mark to 1:54.3 this evening with a 2¾ length tally, his sixth lifetime win in 8 lifetime starts for Owner James Springer and Trainer Robert Lems, he paid $2.60 as the heavy race favorite.
The $9,000 class A split went to Stuckey Dote (by Voracious Hanover) with driver Jim Marino for two in a row, he also lowered his lifetime best tonight with his two length score in 1:55. It was the 9th lifetime win in 13 career starts for Stuckey Dote, who is Owned and Trained by Merlin Van Oterloo.
In a $6,000 conditioned Trot, the 3 year old filly My Little Susie (by Claudius Augustus) posted her 14th lifetime win, and 11th of the season with Trainer/Driver Steve Wiseman in the bike, by just holding off last year’s 3 year old Minnesota Champion Filly Becky Badger Baby (Nick Roland) in a 1:57 lifetime best mile, she paid $3.60 and is owned by A Piece of The Action, LLC.
Driver Nick Roland posted a Hat-Trick on the card, while Luke Plano and Dean Magee both had driving doubles this evening.
The next card of Live Harness Racing will go to post on Sunday, July 24th with a post time of 6:00 PM CDT. Running Aces will be adding Wednesday Live Racing starting this coming Wednesday, July 27th.
By Darin Gagne, Running Aces Track Announcer