The Minnesota-Sired 3 year old Trotters went to post for $15,000 on the Sunday night Harness Racing card at Running Aces, and Al Mar Bon Bon ($82.40), a filly by Sos Lunar Eclipse was dismissed at 40-1 in the wagering, despite having won 10 previous contests out of 18 lifetime starts.
Sent away alertly from the inside post by driver Steve Wiseman, she had the lead at the 30.0 quarter call, then yielded to the outer flow just before the 1:00.1 half mile, and wound up shuffled back to fifth at the three-quarter pole in 1:28.3, from there Wiseman waited patiently for room and sent his filly through a clear path in the homestretch to trot away from the field and post her 11th lifetime win in 1:59, shaving more than 6 seconds off of her previous lifetime best mile. Al Mar Bon Bon is Owned by Cara Hauser and Trained by Alexia Kehl. Mr Jackpot (Dean Magee) was second, and Margins Echo (Rick Magee) checked in third.
The regular Sunday night Featured $12,000 Open Handicap Pace for horses and geldings went to post as well, and there would be no upsets in that contest this evening, as last week's winner Dry Ice ($4.20), also with Steve Wiseman in the sulky, would post an impressive gate-to-wire tally tonight, in 1:53.1 as part of the favored wagering entry in the field. Despite the outside post assignment, Wiseman sent his charge sharply off the gate to secure the early lead, and led through comfortable fractions of 27.3, 57.3 and 1:25.3, only facing pressure in the 3rd quarter from Jazzmanian Devil (Mooney Svendsen) who finished second, as Dry Ice had plenty left in the tank and paced a strong final quarter of 27.3 to secure a 2¼ length win. I'm An Athlete (Nick Roland) was third. It was two in a row for Dry Ice, and his 7th win of the season for A Piece of The Action, LLC and Trainer Steve Wiseman.
Steve Wiseman completed the driving Hat-Trick on the card with Dry Ice, having won an early race with Hot On The Pace ($3.40) in 1:56.4 , also for Trainer Alexia Kehl.
Drivers Brian Detgen, Dean Magee, and Rick Magee all posted doubles on the Sunday night card as well.
The next card of Live Harness Racing will go to post on Tuesday, July 26th at 7:00 pm CDT, with a $5,000 Guaranteed pool in the Late Pick-4 pool. Running Aces will present the first Wednesday card of Live Racing of the Season this coming Wednesday, July 27th as well, with a 7:00 pm CDT first post.
By Darin Gagne, Running Aces Track Announcer