Eight-year-old track record rewritten at Running Aces

The Tuesday night (June 4) harness racing program at Running Aces saw some big performances despite heavy rains and a sloppy track.

One of the most impressive such performances of the night came in a $6,100 conditioned pace when Motley Ray (A Rocknroll Dance) surged late in the lane to get up by ¾ of a length and stop the timer at 1:52.2 to shatter the previous track record for 4-year-old stallions which had stood at 1:54 for eight years (Linkjack Hanover in 2016).

Driver Jacob Cutting orchestrated an impressive steer with the 4-5 public choice, surging from the gate to win the early battle for the lead before the :27.2 quarter, then yielding for the pocket while Topville Rocknluck (Todd Warren) took over the front. Cutting waited patiently in the pocket with Motley Ray through the middle fractions of :56 and 1:24.2 and Topville rocknluck continued to pace strong on the lead as they straightened for home.

Cutting steered Motley Ray to the outside and began to close in on the leader and then they kicked into another gear in the final 70 yards of the mile, surging strongly to the wire to get up for the record setting win.

It was the second win this year and sixth career win for Motley Ray ($3.80) who is owned by his breeder Cheyenne Yoder and is trained by Ariel Alvarez.

MOTLEY RAY REPLAY

PD The Big Easy (Sweet Lou) and driver Mooney Svendsen successfully completed three wins in a row while capturing the $15,500 Open Handicap pace in 1:53 to register his 25^th career tally and eclipse the $200,000 mark in career earnings.

The 6-year-old gelding has gone gate-to-wire in three consecutive races at Running Aces, while climbing the conditions ladder to the top level. He paid $4.40 to win.

The winner is owned by A Piece Of The Action, LLC and is trained by Bob Johnson. The son of Sweet Lou now shows a bankroll of $206,077 to-date.

PD THE BIG EASY REPLAY

Drivers Mooney Svendsen and Luke Plano both recorded doubles and trainer Bob Johnson also had two wins on the Tuesday card.

Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday night (June 6) for a twelve-race program which will feature a carryover of $9,463.22 in the 20-cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager which starts in Race eight.

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

by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces