Running Aces is set for the biggest weekend of the Minnesota Harness Racing season, featuring the $50,000 Dan Patch FFA Pace sponsored by Watch And Wager.
A talented field of ten pacers will line up behind the gate for the 2019 Dan Patch Final in race #9 on Sunday (July 21), with defending Champion Nine Ways (Dean Magee) installed as the 6-5 morning line favorite. The talented 5 year old gelding by Delmarvelous is in search of his sixth consecutive win, and enters this year's final after posting the fastest mile in Running Aces history (1:50.3) in his elimination. Rockin Speed (Travis Seekman) has been listed at 5-2 on the early line as the second choice, and comes into the final off a sharp second place finish in his elimination, timed in 1:51.1. 2017 Dan Patch FFA Champion Firedrake (Nick Roland) is a close third on the starting odds-board with a 3-1 morning line and will make his third consecutive Dan Patch FFA Final start after a sharp second to Nine Ways in the track record producing elimination heat. Firedrake posted a 27.3 final quarter and a 1:50.4 mile for his fastest career clocking. Below is a list of the full field for the 2019 Dan Patch FFA Final.
The 2019 Dan Patch FFA Final at Running Aces
Sunday, July 21 – Race #9
Purse $50,000
1. Top Notch (Rick Magee) 6-1
1A. SF Donttellonme (Joe Casagranda) 6-1
2. Firedrake (Nick Roland) 3-1
3. Ideal Ace (Stephen White) 15-1
4. Annihilator (Don Harmon) 10-1
5. Nine Ways (Dean Magee) 6-5
6. Rockin Speed (Travis Seekman) 5-2
7. To The Limit (Steve Wiseman) 10-1
8. Bettor's Promise (James Yoder) 8-1
9. Fox Valley Gemini (Casey Leonard) 9-2
*SF Donttellonme starts from post 10 in the second tier.
The Dan Patch weekend also features two additional major annual events, which both go to post on Saturday (July 20). The $25,000 Ron Banks Pace features a field of ten top level pacers going into battle in race eight, with Holdingallthecards (Dean Magee) installed as morning line favorite at 8-5 over Stuckey Dote (Rick Magee) at 9-5. The $25,000 Vernon Devine Trot will anchor the Saturday evening card in race nine, with a talented field of nine square-gaiters going to post, including newcomer Pine Dream (Dean Magee) who has been tagged at 2-1 on the early line, with Aces stalwart Banker Volo (Tim Maier) listed a close second choice at 5-2.
Post times for both Dan Patch Weekend cards are 6:00 pm (CDT).
By Darin Gagne, for Running Aces Casino, Hotel & Racetrack