Speaking Volumes loaded with pace at Running Aces

Columbus, MN – The $12,700 Open II Handicap pace was the featured harness racing event on the Tuesday night (July 30) program at Running Aces and it offered a very well-matched field of nine contenders.

Speaking Volumes (Artspeak), who most recently raced in the Dan Patch eliminations and was finding both an easier spot and a better post this week, was sent off as the slight favorite at 2-1 while Sneaky Hill (Brady Jenson) was also well supported at 2-1 on the board.

Captain Up (Brad Irvine), who was given a 7-1 chance by punters, fired fastest from the gate from the far outside post and quickly established command and threw down blistering fractions while loose on the lead.

The quarter flashed up in :26 with Speaking Volumes (Lemoyne Svendsen) in a loose pocket and Kamara (Jacob Cutting) traveling in third while Just Plain Loco (James Kennedy) was caught outside in fourth. The lineup changed just a little at the :54.4 half-mile checkpoint as Just Plain Loco advanced to third and led an outside tier that included Caliber, Juju Hanover and Bombay Hanover.

Captain Up continued to motor into the far turn, posting a :27 third panel (1:21.4) with a three-length advantage, but as they neared the top of the lane the fast fractions began to catch up with the leader.

As they straightened for the stretch drive, Speaking Volumes was loaded with pace and surged from the pocket with authority as the rest of the field fanned across the track.

Speaking Volumes ($6.20) drew away in the final sixteenth of a mile to post a 2-1/4 length tally in a career best 1:50.3 mile.

SPEAKING VOLUMES REPLAY

Sneaky Hill nosed out Kamara for the second spot while Zenetti and Juju Hanover finished on even terms for fourth in a lengthy photo finish.

The winner is a 4-year-old gelding, owned by Little Bapa and trained by Bob Johnson.

Delco Kathleen (Easy Again) posted her second straight win in the $17,000 Minnesota-sired freshman filly ‘A’ pace in a career best 1:56.3.

After getting away in third, driver Todd Warren sent his charge toward the front with an early move and settled on top near the three-eighths mark.

Once on the lead, Delco Kathleen was never in doubt and drew clear late for a 2-1/2 length tally over her stablemate Linked To Chaos (Svendsen) while Skooch’s Valentine (Jeff Hunt) picked up third money.

Delco Kathleen ($2.10) now shows 4 wins from 8 career starts for trainer Justin Anfinson and owner/breeder Jay De Long.

DELCO KATHLEEN REPLAY

The Minnesota Kid (Karpathian Kid, Luke Plano, $5.20) posted an impressive late rally to pick up his second career win in the $17,000 freshman boys ‘A’ pace in 1:57.2, getting home 1-1/4 lengths ahead of pacesetter Swinging On By (Dean Magee) with One Last Booyah (Hunt) well back in third.

The winner is now owned by Stephanie Longo and is trained by Jose Castillo.

Peanutbutterfalcon (Hunt, $5.40) was an impressive gate-to-wire winner in the $17,500 freshman boys ‘A’ trot, getting home 3 lengths ahead of Werewolfofwysteria (Jenson) and Cant Rush Quality (Dan Roland) in a 2:02.3 mile. The top three finishers were all sired by Quality Kemp.

The winner is owned by his breeder Jeralene Roland and is trained by Dan Roland.

SHS Miss My Mama (Southwind Flash, $12.20) and trainer/driver Brady Jenson worked out a perfect pocket trip from post seven to explode with trot in the lane and draw away by 3-1/2 lengths to post her first career win in 2:03.4, with SHS Southern Pride (Warren) second and SD Imma Superstar (Detgen) home third.

The winner is owned by Larry Jenson.

Easy Investment (Easy Again, Brian Detgen, $7.60) surged just in time to capture victory by a nose in the $8,500 freshman ‘B’ pace in 2:00.4, defeating pacesetter Westernwisecracker (Jenson) and longshot DM Magic Player (Kennedy) for his first career win for owner/trainer Dale Lagerquist.

Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday night (August 1) with first post at 6 p.m. for a twelve-race program that will feature a carryover of $14,993.97 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager which will start in race eight.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces