Mac’s Marvel posts a monster mile at Running Aces

Columbus, MN – The Tuesday night (September 10) harness racing program at Running Aces featured the weekly $15,500 Open Handicap pace and this week’s edition was an action-packed contest that went to Mac’s Marvel (Captaintreacherous) who posted a monster first-over effort to capture a narrow victory.

Last week’s winner He’zzz A Wise Sky (Dean Magee) was sent off as the public choice at even money while both No Lou Zing (Todd Warren) and Mac’s Marvel (Williams Hernandez) went off at 9-2 when the starter said “go”.

No Lou Zing surged quickly from the gate for the early call while He’zzz A Wise Sky also left alertly to challenge for and take the top just before the fast :26.2 quarter mile clocking.

Tuggin On My Heart (Brady Jenson), who also left the gate quickly from the far outside post advanced to the front and settled on top before the :54.3 half mile juncture, relegating He’zzz A Wise Sky to the pocket position and No Lou Zing to third while Mac’s Marvel tipped out from sixth position and quickly advanced toward the front during the :27.3 third panel.

Around the final turn Tuggin On My Heart still held the lead with Mac’s Marvel bearing down and He’zzz A Wise Sky a close third. As they swung for home Tuggin On My Heart was under siege with Mac’s Marvel forging to a narrow lead while He’zzz A Wise Sky surged in the passing lane and No Lou Zing shook free with pace on the outside.

Those three pacers battled to the wire in a thrilling finish, stopping the timer in 1:51.3 and putting the photo finish team into action. After close examination Mac’s Marvel was confirmed as the winner by a nose over He’zzz A Wise Sky with No Lou Zing beaten just a neck in third.

MAC’S MARVEL REPLAY

Mac’s Marvel ($11.40) is a 5-year-old and is owned by Jose Cervantes and Terrence Smith and trained by Hernandez. He now shows six wins in 20 starts this season and now has career earnings of $246,074.

Wisco Half Pint (Easy Again) (Brady Jenson, $84.80) pulled a monumental upset in the $17,000 Minnesota-sired freshman filly pace to post her first career win in 1:57.2 over Linked To Chaos (Mooney Svendsen) and Skooch’s Valentine (Luke Plano).

Jenson left alertly from post eight with the longshot filly and found a seat in fifth, where they tracked intently throughout the mile before Jenson angled out and found a narrow opening between horses in deep stretch to surge late and capture victory right at the wire in a thrilling blanket finish.

WISCO HALF PINT REPLAY

The winner is a daughter of Easy Again and is owned by Dave Dobbelmann and Triple Q Stables and trained by Edwin Quevedo.

SHS Southern Pride (Rick Magee, $5.40) made it two in a row in the $17,000 freshman filly ‘A’ trot, taking a new career mark in 2:01.4 over Flora Cash and SD Imma Superstar. She is owned by Jay De Long and Terry Knothe and is trained by Justin Anfinson. The daughter of Southwind Flash now has 4 career wins from 12 starts and earnings of $41,030.

International Ice (Svendsen, $3.40) returned to his winning ways with a sharp 3-1/4 length tally in 2:02.2 in the $17,000 colts ‘A’ trot over SV Captain Ridge and Braggen Bliss. The son of Ice Machine now sports four wins from six career starts and has earned $35,350 for owners Dave Dobbelmann and Triple Q Stables and trainer Edwin Quevedo.

Swinging On By (Karpathian Kid) (Dean Magee, $3.40) delivered another big performance as the favorite for two in a row in the $17,000 boys ‘A’ pace, taking a new career mark in 1:56.3 over Tutto Bene and Yellowstone Kid. The top three finishers are all by Karpathian Kid. The winner is owned by trainer Brett Ballinger as well as Darren taylor. He now shows 5 wins from 9 career outings and has earned $55,325.

SWINGING ON BY REPLAY

The other freshman winners on Tuesday night included I’m Diz Fancy (Dean Magee, $10.00) in 1:59 in the $8,500 ‘B’ pace for trainer Adam Hauser and Step Machine (James Gould, $3.00) in 2:03 in the ‘B’ trot for trainer Elvin Zimmerman.

Drivers Rick Magee, Dean Magee and Brady Jenson and trainer Edwin Quevedo all posted doubles on the program.

Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday night (September 12) for a 12-race program that will feature a carryover of $2,875.38 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager which gets underway in race eight. First post on Thursday is set for 6 p.m. (CDT).

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

by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces