By Darin Gagne, for Running Aces

September 12, 2022

The featured event on the Sunday (September 11) program at Running Aces was the $19,800 Open Handicap trot, which drew a field of six for this week’s edition.

All American N (Muscle Hill) showed 8 wins in his last 10 starts and was sent off as the 1-2 favorite from the outside post. Driver Luke Plano wasted no time in getting the star trotter to the front of the field, making the top before the eighth pole while Bringoverthemoney (Dean Magee) left quickly from post four but had to settle for the pocket trip as they completed a quick opening stanza in :27.1.

The favorite controlled the affair at every call, posting middle fractions of :56.4 and 1:25 while turning back a very strong mid-race challenge from Mind Yown Business (Brady Jenson). In the lane there were challengers on all sides of the leader as Bringoverthemoney charged up the inside and Mind Yown Business and Bordogna were charging on the outside and Mandeville (Tony Kerwood) closed down the center of the track, but All American N dug in gamely and refused to lose, hanging on by a neck over Bringoverthemoney to score his fourth straight win. Mandeville was home in third in the 1:55.4 mile.

It was the ninth win in 15 starts this year for All American N ($3.00), and pushed his seasonal earnings to $99,840 for owner/trainer Maria Alvarez.

Hearduwhispermynam (Braggart) delivered as the big favorite in the $15,600 Open II Handicap trot for his fourth win of the season. Plano was the winning pilot and was content to get away mid-pack while Fox Valley Britzka (Kerwood) and SD Eliminator (Brian Detgen) made the early fractions. Plano activated Hearduwhispermynam ($3.60) as they headed down the backside and quickly opened up by three lengths and then trotted strong to the finish to post a 3-1/2 length tally over longshot Abc Showtime (James Kennedy) and third-choice Daytona Dreamin (Mooney Svendsen) in the 1:57.1 mile.

The winner is owned and trained by Jenni King.

Poko Loki (Tamarind) was a sharp looking winner of the $16,500 Minnesota-sired sophomore boys trot, posting his fourth win of the season with a 1-1/2 length score over Shadowfax (Detgen) in 1:58.4. Driver Chip Lackey sent his charge in search of the lead from post six and made the top right at the quarter pole. Once on the lead Poko Loki was never in doubt and he easily turned back a late challenge from Cobra Venom (Gary Magee) who checked in third.

The winner is owned by Ulf and Susan Holm-Johansen and is also trained by the former.

Triggered (Banker Volo) rallied from off the pace to post her fourth career win, taking the $16,500 sophomore filly trot by a half-length in 1:59.2 with Mooney Svendsen in the bike. Scroll On By (Rick Magee) posted most of the race fractions and held gamely for second while Snap Krakle Ntrot (Kennedy) rallied late for third money.

The winner is owned and trained by her breeder, Robert Lems. The $2 win mutuel returned $17.

Mooney Svendsen led the program with 3 driving wins, while Luke Plano and trainer Jessica Johnson both posted doubles on the card.

Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday (September 13) for the final ‘Dollar Night’ program of the season. The action gets underway with first post at 7 p.m. (CDT).