The Running Aces harness racing season opener went to post on Saturday night, May 20, and while the weather gods didn’t exactly cooperate, an exciting card of racing went to post nonetheless despite an all-day long deluge of rain.
The opening night $10,000 Open Trot feature went to Flameon (by Angus Hall), who was confidently driven by Moonie Svendsen. They sat in the pocket behind rival Banker Volo (Luke Plano), who was the 8-5 choice in the wagering. Flameon powered past in the lane to beat Banker Volo by three-quarters of a length in 1:58 and post his first win in three starts this year for owner/trainer Mark Anderson.
Flameon ($8.40) is no stranger to the Aces winner's circle, as he has been a top contender at the Open Trot level here for the past couple of seasons. Tonight’s tally was the 21st lifetime score for the seven-year-old gelding, and pushed his career bankroll over the century mark to $100,570.
The fastest mile of the night over the sloppy surface was turned in by Tornado Henry ($14.80), a six-year-old gelding pacer by Henry Clay, who kicked off a natural driving hat-trick for veteran reinsman Steve Wiseman with a half-length tally in 1:56.4 from a second-over trip. He also shared in the fastest winning final quarter time of the evening (:29). Tornado Henry is owned by Scott Ehrlich and trained by Kathie Plested Wiseman.
Hairway To Heaven, a four-year-old pacing mare by Barber Pole, posted the biggest upset of the evening with a 30-1 shocker for owner/trainer/driver Gerald Longo. It was the fourth win of the season in 15 starts for Hairway To Heaven, who delighted her backers with a $63.40 win mutuel.
Wiseman’s hat-trick topped the charts on opening night, while Moonie Svendsen picked up a back-to-back double in races five and six to take second honours.
Live racing returns on Sunday, May 21 with a first post of 6 p.m. CDT, and will be held every Tuesday at 7 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 6 p.m. now through September 16.
(With files from Running Aces)