Top Notch wins in thrilling Open at Running Aces

Columbus, MN – The featured event on the Saturday evening (September 7) harness racing program at Running Aces was the $16,000 Open Handicap Pace, with a field of eight talented horses and geldings lining up for battle.

 

This week's top Open field saw the return of Stuckey Dote to the Minnesota five-eighths oval, taking on the best local horses in preparation for the Minnesota Night of Champions next weekend.

 

Stuckey Dote took plenty of action at the betting windows, and was sent off as the 9-5 favorite over Dan Patch FFA champion Nine Ways who was well respected at 2-1 from post eight.

 

Firedrake (Nick Roland) left alertly from post seven, and found the third position at the pylons while Stuckey Dote (Mooney Svendsen) powered to the front, and Top Notch (Rick Magee) left alertly to secure the pocket from post one, as they registered a :27 flat first panel.

 

Nine Ways pulled early and drove first-up to challenge Stuckey Dote for a battle that lasted a half mile, with moderate middle fractions of :56.2 and 1:25.1, before Nine Ways was forced to wave the white flag. Stuckey Dote continued to lead as they straightened for home, but Top Notch had enjoyed the perfect trip and angled wide from the pocket with a burst of pace to get up by a neck on the wire in 1:53.3 while both Who'szoomingwho (Darrell Wright) and Firedrake were both flying late for third and fourth respectively in a thrilling blanket finish.

 

Top Notch ($18 80) is a 5 year old gelded son of No Pan Intended, and out of the Camluck mare Tymal Talea. He is owned by Joe Casagranda and is trained by Rick Magee. The Saturday feature race win was the fourth tally of the year for Top Notch.

 

SB Bodacious ($11.40) picked up his fifth win of the year in the $16,000 Minnesota-Sired 3 year old pace event, flying late with a :28.2 final quarter to sweep by the field in an exciting blanket finish in 1:55.1 over race favorite Burning Blaze. Rick Magee is the trainer/driver of the impressive son of Voracious Hanover, who has now banked $46,311 in thirteen sophomore starts.

 

Drivers Rick Magee and Steve Wiseman led the Saturday program with two winners each.

 

Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday (September 8) with 3 nights left to go in the 2019 season. The 20 cent Pick-5 Jackpot now stands at $5,781.48. Post time on Sunday is 6 pm Central.