A trio of feature events headlined the Thursday night (June 3) card at Running Aces, including two divisions of the Minnesota-sired sophomore pace.
The $15,000 “A” division featured a rematch of last week’s top two finishers: SD Watchmenow (Brian Detgen) took the top prize in the last outing and was a slight wagering favourite to repeat in this week’s contest, sent off as the 4-5 choice. SD Watchmenow was fastest from the gate and easily found the lead from post four, while Alilthundadownunda (Nick Roland) left alertly from post two to secure pocket position. The leader stole a moderate :59 opening half mile with no challengers and no pressure. The tempo quickened in a :27.3 third panel, and the top two began to separate from the rest of the pack. Turning for home, it was clearly a two-horse race to the wire. Roland steered Alilthundadownunda ($4.40) into the passing lane and had just enough steam to surge past the leader in the final strides, winning by a half length in a c
The $11,000 Open Handicap pace was the featured event on the Tuesday (June 1) program at Running Aces, and favourite SB Bodacious turned in another stellar performance to live up to all of the pre-race hype.
Starting from post 5, SB Bodacious was fastest off the car and quickly settled an early skirmish with stablemate Zanetti to take control of affairs and register a :27.1 opening panel. Rick Magee settled his five-year-old Voracious Hanover gelding for a second-quarter breather of :29.1 while his other trainee, Zanetti, tracked intently from the pocket. Solongo traveled along in third through the opening half mile, and the first to move outside was Frewil Dakota Sven, who set sail from the back of the pack to advance in the first-over position.
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Mandeville, the talented nine-year-old trotting son of Majestic Son, delivered as favourite in the featured event on opening night at Running Aces in front of a very large and enthusiastic crowd.
Driver Nick Roland floated the winner into the pocket from post 3 in the six-horse affair. He enjoyed the garden trip behind leader Pridecrest through fractions of :28.3, :58.1 and 1:26.4 before shaking free and surging past in the shadow of the finish wire, getting home three-quarter lengths ahead of Pridecrest in 1:55.1, with All American N picking up third money off of a wide trip throughout. Bordogna got racing room very late in the mile and was an oncoming fourth.