Wonder Of Love captures Aces feature

Columbus, MN – The Thursday night June (29) harness racing program at Running Aces carried the weekly $18,500 Mares Open Pace and this week’s edition drew a field of eight talented distaffers.

Divine Art (Dean Magee) was the talk of the tote-board as the 9-5 favorite while Moosette (Jacob Cutting) was a close second choice at 2-1.

Jk My Girl (Todd Warren) was the fastest off the car from post eight while Wonder Of Love (Shadyshark Hanover) and driver Mooney Svendsen also left sharply from post four. Those two settled in the top spots to register the quarter in :27.1 before Svendsen moved his charge to the lead heading for the :56.1 half mile.

Moosette tried a first over bid down the backstretch and Divine Art followed cover. Moosette drew close to the leader near the (1:24.1) three-quarters but began to tire as they rounded for home while Divine Art moved forward.

Wonder Of Love ($11.60) still had plenty to offer in the lane and impressively kicked clear to win by two lengths while Divine Art picked up the pieces for second and Jk My Girl was third best in the 1:51.4 mile.

It was the eleventh win of the season for the 5-year-old mare, who is owned and trained by Kimberley Hines.

WONDER OF LOVE REPLAY

The program also featured Minnesota-sired freshman and sophomore pacers with two divisions in each age group.

Gotubydashorthairs (Wind Me Up) and driver Nick Roland posted a career best 1:53.3 mile to.just defeat King Of Aces (Plano) in a thrilling photo-finish with Dougsmonkeybusines (Cutting) home third in the $22,000 sophomore ‘A’ division.

The winner is owned by Mark Anderson and trained by Gordon Graham. He paid $17.40 to win.

GOTUBYDASHORTHAIRS REPLAY

El Perrandero Q (Wind Me Up) and driver Jacob Cutting were very sharp in the $18,250 freshman boys’ pace to capture his first lifetime win over Moon Kid Photo and Terror You Apart in 1:57.

The winner is also by Wind Me Up and is owned by Triple Q Stables and trained by Edwin Quevedo. He paid $23.00 to win.

EL PERRANDERO Q REPLAY

Deja Vu Baby Boo (Karpathian Kid, Roland, $38.20) won a thrilling stretch battle in the freshman filly pace to find victory in her career debut, stopping the timer in 1:59. Apple Juice was promoted to second and Delco Irene to third after Moonlit Night was demoted for interference.

The winner is owned by Van Otterloo Stables and trained by Bob Lems.

Meechee (Fancy Schmancy, Brad Irvine, $22.20) posted a career best 1:56.1 effort to capture the $14,500 sophomore ‘B’ event in a three-way photo finish over Polar Storm and Hunky Dory.

The winner is owned by Peg Hoffman and is also trained by Irvine.

Jacob Cutting led the program with 3 driving wins while Nick Roland, Brad Irvine, Brady Jenson and Edwin Quevedo all posted doubles.

Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday (July 2) and Monday (July 3) with first post at 7 p.m. (CDT).

For complete race results, click here.

by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces