Columbus, Min – Running Aces wrapped up their most successful trotting season to date with a great edition of the Minnesota Night of Champions on Saturday (September 17). A record $720,000 for a single night was offered for the top Minnesota-sired trotters and pacers in twelve divisional championship races, each priced at $60,000.
Bring the money (talks about money) and driver Dean Magee, delivered the most dominant win of the night, clinching the Championship in the Aged Male Trot by 5-3/4 lengths in a seasonal best of 1:55 for his third consecutive Night of Champions win. He has now earned $284,161 in his career to date. and paid $3.00 to win.
Magee floated away from post one in third with the heavy favorite while Major Al Mar (James Kennedy) and Ice Titan (Mooney Svendsen) advanced through the opening fractions of :28 and :57. Magee activated Bringoverthemoney first as they spun onto the backstretch and took the lead as they headed into the final corner while Hearduwhispermynam (Luke Plano) caught up sharply from the back of the field, followed by Al-Mar Spicey Talk (Rene Goulet) .
In lane, Bringoverthemoney pushed his opponent away and the race was clearly for places. Hearduwhispermynam bravely held on to second place while Al-Mar Spicey Talk was a hard fought third.
Both the winner and third place are owned by Joshua Horvat and trained by Katie Horvat who is also the winning breeder.
BRINGOVERTHEMONEY REPLAY
iron sharpens iron (Banker Volo) didn’t disappoint his fans and clinched another sharp victory while equaling his own course record of 1:58.1 to catch the male newcomer in the trot and record his ninth straight win.
Driver Luke Plano wasted little time to put the 1-20 favorite in the lead, taking the lead just after the quarter mile (:28.1). Early frontrunner Wisco Wild Card (Tony Kerwood) followed closely from second place and was a strong presence in the bag throughout the affair. Iron Points Iron was happy with the lead while posting a 59.2 down the middle and it was clear the top two finishers were headed home.
In lane, Wisco’s wild card beckoned from the pocket, but Iron Sharpen’s Iron responded immediately and was clearly the best, going two lengths clear on the wire. Whata Tettegouche recovered late and finished third.
Iron Sharpen’s Iron ($2.10) now has 11 wins in 12 career starts and has $111,605 in earnings to date and was the first two-year-old to break the $100,000 season earnings mark in the Minnesota program. He is owned by his breeder Jeralene Roland and trained by Dan Roland and his assistant Angie Coleman.
IRON SHARPENS IRON REPRODUCTION
Teachmehowtory (show off) and driver Rick Magee conquered the Aged Mares Trot Division with a sharp gate-to-wire result of 1-1/4 lengths in 1:58.2 for their second win of the season and 16th career tally. The bay mare was bred by Glen Sauder and has now earned $194,579 during her career for owner Set The Pace Racing and trainer Jessica Johnson. Coatofmanycolors (Plano) was second best and SB Madam Secretary (Chip Lackey) came home third. The winner paid $4.20 to win.
TEACHMEHOWTOTORY REVIEW
Al-Mar Rich’s Jetta (Lear Jetta) and driver Brandon Jenson delivered a sharp looking win in the freshman filly for her third career record. The filly was always in control, having taken the lead just after the quarter, and she repulsed a strong mid-race challenge from runner-up Caronamar (Mooney Svendsen) to take a 1-1/2 win in 2 :02.3 to post while shooting wide Wisco Tootsie (Dan Roland) took the third money.
Bred by Al-Mar Farms, the winner is owned by Larry Jenson and trainer by Brady Jenson. She paid $3.40 to win.
AL-MAR RICH’S JETTA REPEAT
Wavzeka (chip of art) and rider Rick Magee, $8.40) turned a perfect pocket trip into a championship win at freshman filly pace, scoring a three-quarter length in 1:59.3 over a fast closing Anotherflasywoman (Dean Magee) and Quite The Flirt (Plano ) in an exciting stretch drive with all seven starters lined up on the course at the finish. The winner now shows 3 wins in ten career campaigns for owner/breeder Jay De Long and trainer Justin Anfinson. She paid $8.40 to win.
WAVZEKA REPEAT
Kitty Wampus (It’s that time) Mooney Svendsen rallied deep in the lane behind favorite filly Give Me This Dance (Dean Magee) to match the second filly’s pace with a three-quarter length in 1:54.4, with Longshot Bekkum’s Fancy Star coming home third . The winner is owned by her breeder Van Oterloo Stables and trained by Brett Ballinger. She paid $7.20 to win.
KITTY WAMPUS REPRODUCTION
Curvsreasyondaeyes (Easy again) and driver Luke Plano clinched his 9th win of the season in the Rookie Pace Championship, matching his career best of 1:54.1. Longshot SB Prince Archie had a career best performance to finish second best by 1-1/4 lengths while Lovin On You recovered from an early error to come home third. The winner is owned by breeder Kati Sokolwski and rides with trainer Maria Alvarez from the Williams Hernandez stable and has now earned $105,834 this season. He paid $4.20 to win.
CURVSREASYONDAEYES REPEAT
I am a Skoldier (wind me up) and driver Mooney Svendsen valiantly intervened to secure a gate-to-cable win with a nose at the freshmen pace, holding off a furious late attack from Polar Storm (Lackey) in a 1:56.1 mile. Ex Why Zee (Rick Magee) was third best and King Of Aces (Plano) was fourth. The winner now shows 7 wins from 9 career starts for owner/breeder Van Oterloo Stables and trainer Bob Lems. He paid $6.40 to win.
I AM A SKOLDIER REPLAY
twisted bliss (It’s that time) and rider Brandon Jenson rallied from a mid-pack trip to capture the Aged Mares’ pacing championship by 1-1/2 lengths in a career-best 1:56.1 mile. Brooklyn Moonshine (Plano) was second and Marced In Faith (Brady Jenson) was third. The winner is a 4-year-old mare owned by her breeder Larry Jenson and trained by Brady Jenson. She paid $9.40 to win.
TWISTED REPEAT OF HAPPINESS
Wilamar Spark (South Wind Bolt) and driver Dean Magee took a big step mid-race to win the second filly by 1-3/4 lengths in a career best 1:58 mile ahead of race favorite Scroll On By (Rick Magee), with Triggered ( Svendsen) won a clear third place home. The winner was bred by Jeanne Marquis and is owned by both Marquis and Jay De Long. The winner paid $9.20.
WILAMAR SPARK REPEAT
Poko Loki (tamarind) and rider Chip Lackey came off as the favorite in the second male trot, beating Cobra Venom (Gary Magee) in 1:57.4 by a half-length for a new career mark. Shadowfax (Brian Detgen) was the best of the others in third place. The winner was bred by Set The Pace Racing and now has 9 career wins and $119,522 for owners Ulf and Susan Holm-Johansen. He paid $3.80 to win.
POKO LOKI REPEAT
guard neigh (Gluttonous Hanover) and driver Dean Magee finished methodically, heading home late to overtake Alilthundadownunda (Detgen) by a neck in the Aged Men’s Pace Championship in 1:53.1 for his 21st career win. SB Bodacious was third best and Setoncruisecontrol (Svendsen) was fourth. The winner has earned $245,943 to date. Bred by Rick Davelaar and owned and trained by Gerald Longo, he paid $9.40 to win.
WATCHMENEIGHNEIGH REPEAT
Dean Magee led the Night of Champions program with three driving wins, while drivers Rick Magee, Brandon Jenson, Luke Plano and Mooney Svendsen all scored doubles. Coaches Brady Jenson and Justin Anfinson also had doubles.
Luke Plano was the 2022 Leading Driver at Running Aces with 105 wins, while Maria Alvarez clinched the Leading Trainer title with 50 wins.
For full race results, Click here.
by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces
