Always Choose Chip top mare at Aces

Top pacing distaffers were in the spotlight at Running Aces on Thursday night (July 7) and Always Choose Chip (Always A Virgin) stole the harness racing show in the $16,500 Mares Open Handicap.

Brady Jenson chose to sit back in the early stages of the contest with Always choose Chip who was sent off as the 3-5 public choice.

They settled away in fifth while Hottieonthehorizon (Nick Roland) and Avaya Hanover (Mooney Svendsen) traded the early lead, posting moderate early fractions of :27.4 and :57.1 while Tenthousand Angels (Luke Plano) followed in third.

Rockin With Lou (Gerald Longo) came first-up and Jenson maneuvered his mare into the second over position as they raced down the backstretch before the field bunched up around the far turn.

Always Choose Chip ($3.20) was loaded with pace and tipped off the cover as they straightened for home to take the lead and post a one length tally in a seasonal best 1:53 mile.

Hottieonthehorizon was placed second and Shirley Skip Shady was placed third after Rockin With Lou was disqualified for interference.

The winner is a 4-year-old and is also owned and trained by Jenson.

Rojo Caliente (Time To Roll) made it two wins in a row with a sharp looking score in the $13,000 Mares Open II Handicap with Dean Magee in the sulky.

After getting away fourth from post 3, Magee activated the mare just past the half mile mark with a quick first-over brush to the lead, and was never in doubt from there while Rollin Withholly A (Rick Magee) saved ground and surged late for the second spot and Shesureissomething (Roland) grinded out a third place finish.

The winning margin was two lengths and the 1:53.1 mile was a seasonal best for Rojo Caliente ($5.20) who is owned by Craig Rhodes and Jim Ballinger and trained by Brett Ballinger.

Manasquan Beach (Sunshine Beach) made it two wins in a row to capture the $9,700 freshman Open pace in 1:58.2 with Dean Magee in the bike for trainer Dan Roland and owners Kara Morales and Barry Bresnahan, returning $3.40 as the public choice.

Stevies Girl (Svendsen) was a fast closing second on lifetime debut and Hollywood Double (Rick Magee), who was also making his first career start was home in third.

Kitty Wampus (Its That Time, Svendsen, $16.80) posted a career best win in 1:53.2 when she closed from off the pace to get up at the wire over race favorites JK My Girl and Give Me this Dance in the $9,700 sophomore Open pace.

The winner is owned by her breeder Van Oterloo Stables and is also trained by Brett Ballinger.

12-year-old pacing mare Kiss On The Lips (Dontgetinmyway, Roland) made her 300^th career start in a $10,000 conditioned event on Thursday night, and rallied late to pick up second in 1:54.3 after being locked in most of the way. She has posted 55 career wins, 58 seconds and 40 thirds and has earned $348,476 in her long career. She is owned by Peg Hoffman and is trained by Gerald Longo.

Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday (July 10) for Pepsi Family Night and will feature a carryover of $4,348.76 in the Pick-5 Jackpot wager. First post is at 7 p.m. (CDT).

For complete race results, click here.

by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces