Running Aces kicks off closing weekend Friday

Columbus, MN – Running Aces kicks off its closing weekend for the 2022 harness racing season with a nine-race program on Friday (Sept 16) which features three $25,000 Invitational races.

The main event will be the Banker Volo trot, which will be contested at a mile and a quarter, which will be a first for the Minnesota track.

All American N (Muscle Hill, Luke Plano) has been installed as the 6-5 morning line favorite in post six and will be trying for four wins in a row and his tenth Aces win of the season. The second choice at 7-2 is Mind Yown Business (Lockkeeper, Brady Jenson) who drew the inside position and could possibly land a pocket trip. Bordogna (Trixton, Rick Magee) has post five, just inside the big favorite and is listed as the 9-2 third choice. He has been runner-up 7 times this season and could possibly benefit from the added distance.

The other contenders include Mandeville (Tony Kerwood, 5-1), Pridecrest (Mooney Svendsen, 6-1), and Fox Valley Britzka (Dean Magee, 8-1)

The Goody Two Socks pace is headlined by two powerhouse pacers, Caliber (Sweet Lou, Luke Plano, 9-5) and A Major Omen (Art Major, Kerwood, 2-1). They will likely dominate the win pool. The latter has won three in a row, and also won the 2022 Dan Patch FFA back in July. Caliber has posted 7 local wins this summer and has been runner up to A Major Omen in the last three outings.

The other contenders for the Goody Two Socks include PD The Big Easy (Brady Jenson, 4-1), Saddle Up (Dean Magee, 5-1), Numbered Account (Rick Magee, 6-1) and His Beats Hanover (Brandon Jenson, 8-1).

The Dandy Di Distaff pace is possibly the widest Open of Friday’s feature races, with the slight favorite on the morning line being Graceful Horizon (Vertical Horizon, Rick Magee, 5-2) who has won two of her last three starts. Rockin With Lou (Sweet Lou, Dean Magee) has won 13 races this year and three of her last five and is the second choice on the line at 3-1. Hottieonthehorizon (Vertical Horizon, Luke Plano) has won 6 local starts and never been off the board this season at Running Aces and she is listed third at 7-2.

The other contenders for the Dandy Di include Bettor Trix N (Brian Detgen, 5-1), Always Choose Chip (Brady Jenson, 6-1), Gottalovemyshadow (Chip Lackey, 8-1) and Shesureissomething (Tony Kerwood, 8-1).

The Saturday night (Sept. 17) program features 97 horses vying for a record $720,000 in total purses, with 12 divisional Championship races going for $60,000 each.

The freshman male trot is highly anticipated as Iron Sharpens Iron (Banker Volo) will try to close out his near perfect Running Aces season with another win. The impressive colt has won 10 of 11 starts this year and will have regular pilot Luke Plano in the bike. They are the heavy favorites on the morning line at 3-5. Whata Tettegouche (Braggart, Dean Magee) has been runner-up 7 times in a row and is the clear second choice on the early line at 6-1.

The 2021 Minnesota Harness horse of the year, Alilthundadownunda (Malak Uswaad N, Brian Detgen) is the 5-2 morning line favorite in the always anticipated Aged male pacing division, which will close out the Running Aces season in race 12 on Saturday night. He has 8 wins and 8 seconds in 26 starts this year and has drawn post two for the Championship race.

SB Bodacious (Voracious Hanover, Rick Magee) is the defending Aged male pacer of the year and is listed second at 4-1 from post nine, while Marktentwentyseven (Up Front Brad, Brady Jenson) is third on the early line at 9-2 and Watchmeneighneigh (Voracious Hanover, Dean Magee) is 5-1.

Saturday’s program will feature mandatory payouts in all pools, including the Pick-5 Jackpot, Late Pick-4, Late Pick-3 and High-Five (Race 12) wagers.

Post Time for both nights is 7 p.m. (CDT).

For complete race entries, click here.

by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces