Lightning strikes again for Alilthundadownunda

Columbus, MN – Alilthundadownunda (Malak Uswaad N) reminded everyone why he was voted as the Minnesota harness racing horse of the year (2021) as he posted his 45^th career win while taking a new career mark of 1:51 in the Tuesday night (July 15) featured $14,750 Open Handicap pace with trainer/driver Nick Roland in the bike.

Roland floated his star pacer away alertly from post three to grab a seat in third while race favorite He’zzz A Wise Sky (Dean Magee) charged to the front and Spiritofanoutlaw (Brady Jenson) secured the pocket.

He’zzz A Wise Sky registered swift fractions of :26.4, :55.3 and 1:23.1 while Spiritofanoutlaw and Alilthundadownunda tracked along behind the leader and both PD The Big Easy (Brandon Jenson) and Over The Horizon (Billy Mann) tried the outer flow with little impact on the leaders.

In the lane He’zzz A Wise Sky came under pressure as Spiritofanoutlaw pulled the pocket and Alilthundadownunda dove into the passing lane.

Alilthundadownunda ($19.60) charged fastest to the wire and got home a half-length better than Spiritofanoutlaw with He’zzz A Wise Sky a further half-length back in third.

ALILTHUNDADOWNUNDA REPLAY

The win also pushed his career earnings to $490,792 and he is among the top money winning Minnesota-sired horses to-date. He is owned by his breeder Set The Pace Racing.

The Tuesday program also featured Minnesota-sired freshman action with $85,000 in purses over 6 divisions.

Set Free (Three Of Clubs) won the $15,000 colts ‘A’ pace in 1:54.3 with driver Rick Magee aboard for owner Ken Stauffer and trainer Justin Anfinson, while Starstruck Fool (Karpathian Kid) won her fourth straight in the $15,000 fillies ‘A’ split with Nick Roland in the bike for owners Jeri and Briar Roland and trainer Lino Pacheco. The pacing ‘B’ divisions went to Wild About Me (Roland) in 2:00.1 and Baby I’m Hot (Elson Miller0 in 2:01.2.

On the freshman trotting side, SV Rough And Tough (Chad Svendsen) won his third-straight race in the $17,500 colts division in 2:02.4 while AL-Mar Flash Over (Roland) remains a perfect 5-for-5 lifetime after a 2:01.2 tally in the $17,500 filly division.

Nick Roland led the program with four driving wins and a training triple while Rick Magee posted a driving double. Those two are now tied at the top of the Aces drivers list with 41 wins each so far this season.

Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday night (July 17) for an 11-race program with first post at 7:00 p.m. (CDT).

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

by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces