Yellowstone Kid prevails in a thrilling photo finish

Columbus, MN –  Minnesota-sired Sophomore pacers were in the harness racing spotlight on Thursday night (September 4) at Running Aces with 3 divisions going for a total purse of $42,500.

In the $17,000 boys ‘A’ division Swinging On By (Dean Magee) was the public choice at even money from post seven while Wind Me Up Blue (Scott Cisco) was a close second choice at 6-5 from post eight.

Yellowstone Kid (Billy Mann) was fast off the car from post one to take early command but both Tutto Bene (Mooney Svendsen) and Swinging On By wanted the top and they were three-wide at the :28 opening quarter call.

Swinging On By made the top and led through the middle stages in :59 and 1:28.2 while Tutto Bene followed in the pocket and Yellowstone Kid traveled in third and Wind Me Up Blue got rolling first-up from sixth.

In the homestretch Swinging On By was under attack as both Wind Me Up Blue and I’m A Donkey (Brady Jenson) surged outside and Yellowstone Kid surged inside.

The result was a thrilling 4-way battle to the wire that went to Yellowstone Kid ($20.20) by a neck over Wind Me Up Blue who just nosed out I’m A Donkey for second and Swinging On By had to settle for fourth in the 1:58.2 mile which was contested over a sloppy track.

The winner is a sin of Karpathian Kid, he is owned by Ken Stauffer and trained by Justin Anfinson.

YELLOWSTONE KID REPLAY

The $17,000 filly ‘A’  division went to Charming Katie (Dean Magee, $5.20) who went gate-to-wire in 1:58.3 for owner Kevin Magee and trainer Michael Meza. The daughter of Karpathian Kid now has 3 wins in a row.

The $8,500 sophomore ‘B’ division went to The Minnesota Kid (Luke Plano, $2.10) who delivered as the overwhelming favorite, winning by more than ten lengths in 1:58.4 for his eighth win of the year. He is also by Karpathian Kid and is owned by Stephanie Longo and is trained by Jose Castillo.

Premier Desirey (Jenson, $7.80) advanced to 4 wins in a row with a big first-over effort in the $17,000 Mares Open Handicap pace in 1:54.4 over Deja Vu Babyboo and JK My Girl.

The winner is an 8-year-old daughter of Real Desire now shows 8 wins this year for owner Harold Herrera, trainer Bob Johnson and assistant  trainer Jose Herrera.

Brady Jenson led the program with 3 driving wins while both Bryan Quevedo and Luke Plano posted driving doubles.

Live Racing action returns to Running Aces on Sunday night (September 7) with a 12-race program that will feature two carryovers: $1,754.97 for the early 50-cent Pick-4 starting in race two, and $9,213.05 for the 50-cent High-5 wager in race four. First post on Sunday is 6 p.m. (CDT).

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

by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces