The Sunday night May 28 Running Aces harness racing card featured the $12,000 Open Handicap Pace with a talented field of 9 squaring off, and it was AllmyX’sLiveNTexas who stole the show. Driven confidently by Mooney Svendsen for trainer Bob Johnson, the duo posted a sharp front-running score in 1:51.4, just one tick off of the track record for 4 year old pacing geldings. Sent hard from post six, the impressive son of Hi Ho Silverheels battled to clear the lead past the opening quarter mile (26.4), then repelled a strong challenge from race favorite SF Donttellonme (J. Casagranda) through the middle fractions of the race (55.4, 1:22.3) and had enough left in the tank to hold the rest of the field at bay and pick up his 6th win in 16 starts this year. Easy Again (R. Magee) picked up second, with SF Donttellonme home in third. With tonight’s triumph AllmyX’sLiveNTexas expanded his seasonal bankroll to $28,778 for owners Wayne & Rodney Knittel.
The $10,000 Open Trot was also part of the Sunday card, and it would be the return of Banker Volo to the Running Aces winner’s circle, a familiar place for this talented 8 year old Stallion by Yankee Glide who was runner up in this event last week and was making just his 2nd start of the year. Driver Luke Plano guided Banker Volo out to an easy lead from post 5 and was never in doubt, controlling the affair and strolling through moderate fractions of 28.2, 58.4 and 1:27.1 before coasting home in 29.3 to hold off Leave Your Mark (N. Roland) by ¾ of a length in 1:56.4. Banker Volo is owned by Daniel Roland and trained by Jenni King.
The $13,000 Minnesota-Sired 3 year old trotters also squared off this evening, with a full gate of 10 contestants. Imapixieatmidnight (N. Roland) set all the fractions in the affair, but was gunned down late by pocket-sitter Al Mar Foxyeclipse (Joe Casagranda), with Al Mar Money Glide (T. Maier) home in 3rd in the 2:02.1 mile. Tonight’s win was the 3rd lifetime tally for Al Mar Foxyeclipse in 18 starts, and boosted his bankroll to $22,910 for owner Mark Holtan with Joel Mc Danel doing the conditioning.
Drivers Nick Roland, Steve Wiseman, and Mooney Svendsen all picked up driving doubles on the program.
Live Racing returns to Running Aces this coming Tuesday, May 30 with a first post of 7:00 pm CDT.
By Darin Gagne, Running Aces Track Announcer