31-1 upset winner in thrilling Open Pace feature

Columbus, MN – The Tuesday night (June 25) harness racing program at Running Aces was highlighted by Minnesota-sired freshman action as well as the weekly top Open Pace and was loaded with exciting racing and close finishes.

The $15,500 Open certainly did not disappoint as a full field of nine talented pacers provided an action-packed edition of the weekly top pace.

Tuggin On My Heart (Jacob Cutting) rocketed to the lead from post one and faced immediate pressure from No Lou Zing (Mooney Svendsen) as they threw down a fast-opening quarter in :26.2 while 31-1 longshot PD The Big Easy (Sweet Lou) and driver James Kennedy landed in the pocket in third.

He’zzz A Wise Sky (Todd Warren) got out and rolling early to catch the cover from No Lou Zing and Ynotthishos (Nick Roland) also joined the outer tier as the field was stacked and packed at the :54.3 half-mile checkpoint.

Down the backside No Lou Zing turned up the pressure on the leader but Tuggin On My Heart refused to relinquish the lead and those two remained locked in battle as they rounded the far turn and registered three-quarters in 1:22.2.

In the homestretch PD The Big Easy was able to shake free from the pocket and come after a resilient Tuggin on My Heart and those two battled to the wire with PD The Big Easy doing his best work in the final strides to get up just in time to capture victory by a head as they stopped the timer at 1:51.1.

No Lou Zing held very gamely for third money over a fast-closing Speaking Volumes (Jeff Hunt).

PD THE BIG EASY REPLAY

It was the 26^th career win for PD The Big Easy ($64.80), a 6-year-old, owned by A Piece Of The Action, LLC and trained by Bob Johnson, who is also the trainer of the third and fourth place finishers.

International Ice (Ice Machine) won the first freshman Minnesota-sired trotting event of the season, converting a pocket trip to become a debut winner by 1-3/4 lengths in 2:02.3 over SV Captain Ridge (Rick Magee) and SD Imma Superstar (Brian Detgen). Mooney Svendsen was the winning pilot for owner Dave Dobbelmann and trainer Edwin Quevedo. International Ice and Svendsen were the heavy favorites and returned $3.40 to win in the $21,000 affair.

INTERNATIONAL ICE REPLAY

Delco Kathleen (Easy Again) posted a very sharp gate-to-wire win as the heavy public choice in the $17,500 freshman filly pace in 1:57.2 with Todd Warren in the bike. They were 6-1/2 lengths better than Skooch’s Valentine (Kennedy) and Wisco Half Pint (Cutting) and returned $2.80 to for every $2 ticket.

The winner is owned by Jay De Long and is trained by Justin Anfinson.

DELCO KATHLEEN REPLAY

Swingin On By (Karpathian Kid) won a thrilling photo finish with Blazin For Life (Wind Me Up) in the $17,500 freshman male pace in 1:58. That pair were 1-3/4 lengths better than High Country Baby (Three Of Clubs) at the wire.

SWINGIN ON BY REPLAY

Dean Magee was the winning pilot for owner/trainer Brett Ballinger and additional owner Darren Taylor. The $2 win tickets paid $5.

Drivers Todd Warren and Dean Magee led the Tuesday night program with two wins each.

Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday night (June 27) for a twelve-race program that will get underway with first post at 6 p.m. (CDT).

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

by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces