So So De Vie much the best at Running Aces

Columbus, MN – The $12,000 Open Handicap pacing event was the feature on the Tuesday night (July 13) harness racing program at Running Aces, with a field of eight facing the starting gate in race seven on the nine race card.

Castle Flight (Luke Plano) was fastest away at the start and quickly took control of the contest while posting very moderate early fractions (:28.3 and :58.2) as Swagasaurusrex (Brady Jenson) sat in the pocket.

So So De Vie (Dean Magee) got rolling on the outside near the half mile juncture and quickly drew alongside the leader down the backstretch, while Hoo Nien A (Gerald Longo) picked up the live cover.

The battle for the lead continued around the far turn, with Castle Flight fighting hard to try to retain the lead and So So De Vie applying heavy pressure. As they rounded for home So So De Vie ($28.40) began to get the upper hand and he was able to forge to the lead in mid-stretch and pace strong to the wire to register a one length tally in 1:54 for his sixth win of the season.

Castle Flight was a very game second over Hoo Nien A. The winner is a 4 year old gelding by American Ideal, owned by Jose Cervantes and trained by Edward Hernandez.

SO SO DE VIE REPLAY

The $16,000 Minnesota-Sired Trot was another featured event on the program, and it was the Banker Volo filly Vickie’s Vacation who dominated the affair for her second straight win.

Driver Nick Roland sent her right to the front from post six and they were never in doubt in the 2:03.3 mile which saw slow early fractions and a much quicker final half. Vickie’s Vacation ($4.00) trotted home in :28.4 to keep her rivals in chase mode. Poko Loki (Luke Plano) was a sharp second and Need More Cowbell (Dan Roland) was a solid third.

The winning owners are Jeralene Roland and Vickie Rush and the winning trainer is Dan Roland.

VICKIE’S VACATION REPLAY

Sporty Spook turned in the fastest mile of the night (1:53) in the $7,500 Claiming pace with a 1-1/4 length gate-to-wire effort for his 42nd career win. The 10 year old Sportswriter gelding has now bankrolled $394,070.

He is owned by Fabiola Quevedo and trained by Edward Hernandez.

Nick Roland also won with Dream Chasin ($25.80) in 1:56.2, Lady In Fashion ($7.40) in 1:54.2, and My Friskie Boy ($13.00) in 1:54 to complete the Grand Slam of four winners, while both Mooney Svendsen and Dean Magee registered doubles on the card. Hernandez was the only trainer to score a double on Tuesday night.

Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Thursday night (July 15) with first post at 6:05 pm (CDT) and will feature a carryover of $2,629.61 in the 20 cent Pick-5 Jackpot wager.

For full race results, click here.

By Darin Gagne’, for Running Aces