Mandeville just misses tying track record

Columbus, MN – The featured event on the Tuesday (August 11) harness racing program at Running Aces was the $9,500 Open Handicap Trot – with a field of eight talented square-gaiters going into battle.

 

The talk of the tote-board was Bordogna, who was looking to extend an eight-race winning streak and was sent off at 4-5 from the outside post.

 

Mandeville (Nick Roland) fired fast from the gate from post seven, and Bordogna (Rick Magee) fired even faster from post eight – surging to the lead well before the quarter and seating Mandeville into the pocket with a sharp opening stanza of :27.1, while Banker Volo (Tim Maier) also showed early speed to sit third.

 

Bordogna trotted strong on the lead and was not pressured through the middle stages, posting :56.1 and 1:24.3 for a middle half in :57.2. Mandeville enjoyed the garden seat throughout while Pridecrest (Mooney Svendsen) came first-over. As they straightened for home Mandeville shook free from the pocket with plenty of trot and was able to surge past Bordogna for a 1-1/4 length tally in a career best winning time of 1:54, which was just one-fifth of a second off of the overall track trotting record. Pridecrest, (the record holder) edged out Banker Volo for the third spot.

 

Mandeville ($6.40) is an 8 year old gelding by Majestic Son and has now won 27 career races, while bankrolling $244,919. The winning owner/trainer is Gerald Longo.

 

The Tuesday program also featured the Minnesota-Sired two year old events for both trotters and pacers.

 

The $9,200 "B" division of the freshman pacers went to Doubleontherocks (Nick Roland, $4.40) who scored a 1-1/4 length victory on career debut with a mile in 1:58.1 over She's A Showstopper (Jacob Cutting) and Twisted Bliss (Brandon Jenson). The winner is a filly by Lettherockbegin, owned by Nikki Hudson and trained by Jessica Johnson.

 

The $15,000 freshman trot went to The Royal Queen (Rick Magee, $5.60) for her fourth straight win, with a new career mark in 2:01.2 over Rush To The Bank (Nick Roland) and It's So Fluffy (Dean Magee). The winner is a filly by Tom Ridge, owned and trained by Justin Anfinson.

 

The $13,800 freshman "A" pace went to Twilight Sunset (Rick Magee, $3.40) for his second straight win in two career starts. The colt by Twilight Bonfire edged by Mayday Maggie (Mooney Svendsen) late for a 1:56 win, with Mibwest Kid (Dean Magee) home in third. The winner is owned by Janna Lee Rucker and trained by Brady Jenson.

 

Driver Nick Roland led the program with a Grand Slam of four winners, while Rick Magee, Darrell Wright and Dean Magee each scored driving doubles. Trainers Jessica Johnson and Edward Hernandez each registered a double on the day.

 

Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Saturday, August 15 with first post at 1:00 pm (CDT).