Bestinthebusiness up in time in Aces Open Pace

Columbus, MN.  The featured event on the Saturday night (Sept. 8) Harness Racing program at Running Aces was the $13,000 Open Handicap Pace for horses & geldings with a good field of seven squaring off behind the gate.

Bestinthebusiness (James Yoder) was the race favorite, coming in fresh off a huge first-over mile in this event last week where he just missed by half a length to stablemate Whatchyastarinat in a 1:51.3 mile.

Again this week Whatchyastarinat (Lemoyne Svendsen) fired right off the gate from post seven to take command after an early battle with Stuckey Dote (Rick Magee), the fractions were solid with a :26.4 quarter, followed by :56.0 and 1:24.1.

Bestinthebusiness launched his first-over attack near the 5/8 marker and the two Gene Miller trainees were once again going head to head for the final quarter mile in the top event.

Whatchyastarinat was dead-game but Bestinthebusiness and Stuckey Dote were firing on both sides in the final yards and Besinthebusiness would get up to prevail by a neck on the line over Stuckey Dote and Whatchyastarinat was just a half-length back in third in a 1:52.1 mile.

Bestinthebusiness ($4.20) is owned by Brett Boyd Racing and trained by Gene Miller, the feature win tonight was the 46th career tally for the winner of $431,130 lifetime.

The $14,000 Minnesota-Sired 3 year old pace event went to Giggle Monster again tonight, for two wins in a row in this division.

Driver Dean Magee fired up Giggle Monster much earlier than usual and they cleared the lead just before the 3/8 pole and faced heavy pressure from Frewil Dakota Sven (Corey Larson) through the middle stages, producing a :56.3 middle half.

After turning back that challenge near the top of the lane, Giggle Monster ($3.60) cruised home a winner by 1 ¾ lengths in 1:54.3 for his fourth win in fourteen starts this season.

The impressive son of Wind Me Up has now won $73,580 in 23 career races for owners Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte and trainer Justin Anfinson.

Steve Wiseman led the Saturday card with three wins, with Dean Magee picking up a double.

Live Racing returns on Sunday (Sept. 9) with first post at 6:00 pm CDT and a carryover in the 20 cent Jackpot Pick-5 wager of $36,161.20.
 

By Darin Gagne