Storms cancel card after 4; Dan Patch FFA postponed

Columbus, MN – Heavy rains moved in at Running Aces Sunday evening (July 28) just before race four, which was conducted over a sloppy track. The rains then intensified further over the next hour which forced cancellation of the remainder of the harness racing program due to safety concerns.

The $50,000 Dan Patch FFA final, which had been slated as race eight, has been rescheduled for next Sunday (August 4). More details will be made available as soon as possible.

The $17,000 Minnesota-sired sophomore male trot led off the abbreviated program on at Running Aces and DP Freedoms Chrome (For You Almostfree) and driver James Gould each posted career milestones while capturing victory in the event by 3-1/4 lengths.

Gould wasted no time in sending DP Freedoms Chrome out to pursue the front of the affair from the outside post in the 8-horse field, and they had to work a bit to clear Wherever Rio Goes (Sean Smithpeters) and establish command just past the :28.1 quarter.

Once on top DP Freedoms Chrome led comfortably while Wherever Rio Goes tracked in the pocket and Banker’s Quest (Mooney Svendsen) traveled in third as the fractions remained solid (:56.4 and 1:25.4).

In the homestretch DP Freedoms Chrome ($2.10) easily kept to his task and drew clear impressively to record his 16th win from 17 career starts, stopping the timer in 1:56.1 for a new lifetime record while Wherever Rio Goes was a clear second and Last Of Braggert (Jacob Cutting) checked in third.

DP FREEDOMS CHROME REPLAY

It was also career driving win number 100 for James Gould (21) who is one of the youngest drivers currently competing at Running Aces.

Gould wasted no time in getting started on his next 100 wins, picking up win number 101 two races later with American Cross ($4.20), a filly by Ice Machine in a career best 2:00.4 mile to take the sophomore ‘B’ trot.

AMERICAN CROSS REPLAY

Both winners are owned by Aimes Racing and trained by Elvin Zimmerman.

Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday night (July 30) for a nine-race program which gets underway with first post at 7 p.m. (CDT).

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

by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces