Dan Patch FFA elims highlight Sunday card

Columbus, MN – The Sunday night (July 16) harness racing program at Running Aces will feature two $22,500 elimination divisions of the 2023 Dan Patch FFA Pace as part of an 11-race program.

The first elimination split goes in race six and kicks off a 50-cent pick-3 wager with Crooked Smile (Todd Warren) installed as the 6-5 morning line choice and No Lou Zing (Kevin Wallis) given plenty of respect as the 7-5 second choice. Both of these horses are making their Aces debut in this event.

Crooked Smile is a 6-year-old son of Panther Hanover, he won his last outing at Hoosier Park in 1:49.1 and shows a final quarter mile in :25.3, he races from the Tim Wilson, Jr. stable.

No Lou Zing (Sweet Lou) just completed a very successful campaign at Oak Grove posting four wins there, including scores in his last two. Jenni King is the local conditioner for the six-year-old gelding.

Completing the field are Saddle Up (Dean Magee, 6-1), Caliber (Luke Plano, 8-1), two-time state champion and 2021 Minnesota Horse of the Year Alilthundadownunda (Nick Roland, 10-1), and last year’s Dan Patch champion A Major Omen (Gerald Longo, 15-1).

The second division goes in race seven and starts the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot which has a carryover of $26,729.18.

Current all-age pacing track record holder He’zzz A Wise Sky has been tapped as the 7-5 morning line pick in the second split with driver Jacob Cutting. The 6-year-old stallion by Yankee Skyscraper has two wins from seven starts this year, including the 1:50 local record mile on June 6 for trainer John Filomeno. His most recent effort is a fifth-place finish by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:48.1 at Hoosier after cutting the mile.

American Dreamer (American Ideal) has been given a 5-2 chance off the strength of three local wins in six starts including a 1:50.1 track record on June13. Todd Warren drives for trainer Tim Wilson, Jr.

Mac’s Marvel (Captaintreacherous), who has twice re-written records here at Aces this meet, is listed at 3-1 with driver Luke Plano. The 4-year-old has two local wins and six total wins this season for trainer Williams Hernandez.

Completing the field are Shamwow (Rick Magee, 6-1), His Beats hanover (Nick Roland, 8-1) and PD The Big Easy (Kevin Wallis, 8-1).

In addition to the Dan Patch Elims, the program also includes a very nice 9-horse field for the weekly $18,500 Open Trot in race eight, which kicks off the $5,000 guaranteed Late Pick-4.

First Post at Running Aces is 7 p.m. (CDT).

by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces