Thrilling finish in Running Aces Open Pace

Columbus, MN – May 29, 2024 – The $15,500 Open Pace highlighted the Tuesday night (May 28) program at Running Aces, and it did not disappoint harness racing fans, providing the closest finish of the night which put the photo finish camera into overdrive.

Ynotthishos (Jacob Cutting) was sent off as the 8-5 public choice and he sprinted off the gate to grab the early lead while American Dreamer (American Ideal) and driver Todd Warren also left fast and secured the pocket position in front of stablemate Schwartz Bros Pat (Dean Magee).

They remained the top three in the affair through the opening fractions of :27.1 and :56.3 before Caliber (James Kennedy) started the outer flow and It’ll Be Fine (Jeff Hunt) followed cover from the back of the pack as the field stacked up down the backside of the track.

Ynotthishos still had control as they rounded past three-quarters in 1:24.4 with American Dreamer still snug in the pocket and Caliber close on the outside and stalking the leaders.

As they straightened for the drive American Dreamer was able to angle out from the pocket and come after the leader and the top pair both paced strong to the wire providing a thrilling battle and a lengthy photo finish to determine the winner.

After the dust had settled American Dreamer ($10.80) was found to be the winner by the smallest possible margin, getting up at the last possible moment to register his first win of the year in 1:53 over Ynotthishos while last week’s winner Bombay Hanover rallied late for third.

AMERICAN DREAMER REPLAY

The winner is a 10-year-old gelding, owned by Wilson Racing Stable, Ann Calvert and Mark Eichberger and is trained by Tim Wilson, Jr. along with assistant Jenni De Menge. This was career win number 33 for American Dreamer who now shows $453,408 in career earnings.

PD The Big Easy (Sweet Lou, $2.80) posted the fastest mile of the night in 1:51.3, making it two in a row at Running Aces in the $9,300 top conditioned pace for owner A Piece Of The Action, trainer Bob Johnson and driver Mooney Svendsen. It was the 24^th career win for the 6-year-old gelding.

PD THE BIG EASY REPLAY

My Friskie Boy (Feelin Friskie) provided the fireworks on Tuesday night, posting the biggest $2 win payoff ($57.60) of the season to date with a very impressive effort in a $7,700 conditioned pace with Sean Smithpeters in the bike.

The pair left alertly and secured the pocket position and closely tracked the leader before making a move to the front into the far turn and drawing away in the homestretch to win by 4-1/2 lengths in 1:54.4 to register the 49^th career win for the 11-year-old gelding, who also eclipsed the $300,000 mark in career earnings with the victory.

MY FRISKIE BOY REPLAY

Brady Jenson, Mooney Svendsen and Bob Johnson all recorded doubles on the Tuesday night program.

Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday (May 30) for a twelve-race program which gets underway at 6 p.m. (CDT).

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

by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces