Chewy Baca keeps chewing up the opposition

Chewy Baca (Travis Bowman) captured his third straight Open Pace on Tuesday night at the harness racing meeting at Running Aces, working hard to get to the front in a :27 second first quarter from an assigned outside post position, then holding off Thebestofjoel (Tim Maier) by a head in 1:52.4.

It was Chewy's 33rd career victory, but third for current owner Dr. James Findlay of British Columbia who claimed the six-year-old gelding for $15,000 less than a month ago.

The winner's share of the $9600 purse pushed Chewy Baca's lifetime bounty past the $150,000 plateau.

Local favorite Linkjack Hanover, a three-year-old colt owned and trained by Jeff Ryan, finished a game third in the featured mile, just 1-1/4 lengths behind at the wire.

A pair of $8000 races restricted to two-year-old Minnesota-sired trotters were also contested on the card.

The filly division went to favored RSS Express (Duane Roland), who topped Whatevershesgot (Jenni King) and Hall Of Riches (Tim Maier) in 2:03.4.

The freshman daughter of Rail Splitter now has a pair of Running Aces victories to go with one win and three place finishes at Iowa fairs.

She is owned by Duane and Connie Roland.

Margin's Echo (Rick Magee) notched his fourth rookie season triumph in seven tries defeating the colts in 2:04.3 for owner Mikaela Delgiudice.

The son of Abra lead the field throughout and trotted an impressive :59.3 back half to top Mr Jackpot (Dean Magee) by a half-length with The Winnin Dollar (Steve Wiseman) garnering the show dough.

Driver Tony Succarotte scored the only double with seven other drivers each getting a single win on the nine-race program.

Succarotte visited the winner's circle with Velvet Knight, who won a $3600 non-winners of one pace for owner-trainer Dave Carter; and Prana, who demolished a $3600 condition class by eight lengths in 1:53.4 for trainer-lessee Patricia Minella.

Gregg Keidel