Handsome Harvey rolls to 12th win of the year

Columbus, MN – The Tuesday night (July 11) harness racing program at Running Aces included the weekly $18,500 Open Pace and Handsome Harvey (Special Forces) stepped up to the plate in a very big way to capture his fourth straight win.

The 4-year-old was making his first start at the top-level and was also looking to advance his seasonal win total to an even dozen. The public was on board and sent him off as the even money choice, while they also heavily supported Schwartz Bros Pat (Todd Warren) at just over even money as well.

Trainer/driver Luke Plano eased away from the gate in third position while Schwartz Bros Pat and Maui (Svendsen) battled for the early lead and posted the opening quarter in :27 seconds.

Plano activated Handsome Harvey and brushed to the lead near the three-eighths marker and led comfortably through the middle stages in :55.1 and 1:23.1 while Schwartz Bros Pat followed intently in the pocket and Sneaky Hill (Brady Jenson) launched a first-over bid from fourth.

Handsome Harvey ($4.00) turned for home with the lead by just over a length before Schwartz Bros Pat emerged from the pocket with pace to make a race of it in the final sixteenth of a mile, the leader dug in gamely and made it home a winner by a neck in 1:51.4 to extend his win streak. The top two were 2-1/2 lengths clear of Sneaky Hill in third.

Handsome Harvey is owned by Plano as well as Dave Haness and he now shows 17 wins from 34 career starts and earnings of $97,345. It was also his fourth straight win.

HANDSOME HARVEY REPLAY

Baby Flash (Southwind Flash) advanced to a perfect 5-for-5 lifetime with an impressive closing effort in the $22,000 Minnesota-sired freshman trot in 2:03.

Stablemates Banker’s Grace (Roland) and Banker’s Quest (Svendsen) traded the early lead before another stablemate – Insurrectionist (Plano) launched a first-over attack down the backside. The three Banker Volo progeny held the top positions all the way into the lane before Baby Flash ($16.00) got rolling from the back of the pack for driver Dean Magee and swept by her rivals to post a half-length victory over Insurrectionist with Banker’s Quest getting home in third.

It was the first pari-mutuel start and win for Baby Flash, who is owned by trainer Rick Huffman as well as Keith Wilson and Brenda Lovetinsky.

BABY FLASH REPLAY

Drivers Dean Magee, Nick Roland and Luke Plano all posted triples on the Tuesday program.

Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday night (July 13) with an 11-race program that will feature a carryover of $24,571.98 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager.

For complete race results, click here.

by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces