Undefeated mare wins $35,000 Ron Banks FFA Final

Columbus, MN – The $35,000 Ron Banks Memorial FFA Mares Pace Final was the featured harness racing event on the Sunday evening (June 25) card at Running Aces and featured a deeply talented field of eight top-level distaffers going into battle over a rain-soaked surface which was listed as sloppy.

Maggie Rhee (Jereme’s Jet) was the 1-2 public choice and was looking to protect her perfect local record of 4 wins in 4 starts, including a dominating 3-length score in her $20,000 elimination division in 1:52.2 on June 18 and a sensational track record tying performance in 1:51 on June 8.

The public also showed plenty of respect to Scorecard Dandy, who made her local debut last week with an impressive gate-to-wire performance in her elimination split in 1:51.3 while 4-1/4 lengths ahead of her rivals, she was sent off as the 7-5 second choice while Graceful Horizon was the only other horse below double-digits at 9-1 on the board.

When the gates folded up and the starter pulled away it was Scorecard Dandy (Jacob Cutting) who got the first call from post three while Graceful Horizon (Nick Roland) also left sharply from the inside and driver Todd Warren and favorite Maggie Rhee charged fast from post six to pose an early challenge for the lead.

Maggie Rhee had the call at the quarter pole in :27.1 and settled on top before the three-eighths marker while Scorecard Dandy was forced to yield and take the pocket trip.

Wonder Of Love (Mooney Svendsen) had also left fast from the far outside post and was caught out through the early and middle stages.

The middle fractions were quite reasonable (:56.2 and 1:25.1) and Maggie Rhee was a comfortable leader at each call. Disaronno Hill (Luke Plano) made a three-wide bid down the backstretch to get around Wonder Of Love while Graceful Horizon saved ground as they headed around the final turn.

In the lane it was clearly a two-horse race and Scorecard Dandy angled from the pocket to come after the leader, but Maggie Rhee dug in gamely and was never in doubt, holding on impressively for a half-length tally to remain perfect at Running Aces. She stopped the timer in 1:52.4 to register her 30^th career win.

Disaronno Hill was third best while well back of the top-two finishers and Graceful Horizon rounded out the top four.

MAGGIE RHEE REPLAY

Maggie Rhee ($3.00) is a 6-year-old mare out of the The Big Dog mare Bow Wow Wine. She was bred by John Leahy and is owned by Wilson Racing Stable, Norman Neff, and Mark Eichberger and is trained by Tim Wilson, Jr. along with assistant Jenni DeMenge.

A very large contingent of family and friends gathered in the winner’s circle for the Ron Banks Memorial, which is an annual event to honor the memory of a great friend to Minnesota Harness Racing.

Mr. Banks was a well-respected owner, trainer and breeder who also loved to dabble as a race announcer. He served on the board for the Minnesota horsemen, and he was one of a group that worked tirelessly to gain approval for a pari-mutuel harness track license in north-metro Minnesota, which ultimately led to the opening of Running Aces.

Chiplosive (Explosive Matter) and driver Dean Magee exploded with late trot to sweep by the field late in the $18,500 Open Handicap Trot to register his fourth win of the season.

Susie’s Sister (Svendsen) and All American N (Plano) and Jack Vernon (Warren) were the fastest off the car and took the top early positions.

Susie’s Sister made a miscue before the half and Dylan The Great launched a first-over bid while both Chiplosive and Bringoverthemoney (Cutting) followed.

All American N led until deep in the lane before falling under siege from all sides while Chiplosive ($12.80) angled to the far outside and charged by everyone else to get up for a half-length win in 1:57.3.

The winner is a 7-year-old gelding owned by Terrence Smith and trained by Williams Hernandez.

CHIPLOSIVE REPLAY

Al-Mar Richs Jetta (Lear Jetta) delivered a big performance as the 2-5 favorite in the $18,250 Minnesota-sired sophomore filly pace to register her first win of the season with a 2:03.1 mile over the sloppy going.

The filly held off several challenges throughout the mile and kept pocket-sitter Wisco Tootsie (Rick Magee) at bay in the lane while 76-1 longshot Sdiwannabaracehorse (Brian Detgen) was able to pick up the pieces for third money.

The winner is owned by Larry Jenson, trained by Brady Jenso, and was driven to victory by her regular pilot Brandon Jenson. She paid $2.80 to win.

AL-MAR RICHS JETTA REPLAY

The $18,250 colts & geldings division was presented on an early non-betting card and featured a bulky field of ten starters.

Ice Splitter (Warren) led the affair from post one while BP’S Lucky Star (For You Almostfree) emerged from the second tier to secure the pocket ride as Weekend At Bernies, Wisco Wild Card and Iron Sharpens Iron all travelled on the outside during the action-packed affair.

The outside horses failed to make much of an impression on the leader and BP’S Lucky Star benefitted from a ground-saving journey to close fast in the passing lane and capture victory by 1-3/4 lengths over Ice Splitter and Iron Sharpens Iron in a career best 1:59.2 mile.

The winner is owned by trainer Rick Huffman, as well as Brenda Lovetinsky and Penny Lundell.

Todd Warren led the Sunday program with 4 driving wins while trainers Brady Jenson and Justin Anfinson both recorded doubles.

Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday (June 27) with an 11-race program that will feature a carryover of $11,626.63 for the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager. First post at Running Aces is 7 p.m. (CDT).

For complete race results, click here.

by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces