The first annual Steve Wiseman Memorial Trot was the featured event on the Sunday evening (August 22) harness racing program at Running Aces and it drew a talented field of seven going for a purse of $17,500.
All American N was the 3-2 favourite with pilot Luke Plano, while Bordogna (Nick Roland) was sent off at 8-5 and Susies Sister (Brady Jenson) was given a 4-1 chance in the win pool.
All American N was fastest off the car and went right to the lead from post five, while Mind Yown Business (Dean Magee) also left alertly from the outside seven post and secured the pocket with Bordogna dropping in third through the moderate early fractions of :28.1 and :59 flat.
Driver Mooney Svendsen was first to make a move on the leaders and sent Pridecrest in to action from fifth just past the half-mile post while Hearduwhispermynam (Brian Detgen) and Lucky Playmate (Rick Magee) followed the cover. Pridecrest drew alongside the leader and the top two battled around the far turn as the moderate tempo continued with a :29.3 third panel.
As they straightened for the finish, it was clearly a two-horse battle to the wire and All American N ($5) was able to dig in gamely and fend off a resilient Pridecrest for a half-length tally in 1:57.3 over the rain-soaked surface labeled ‘good.’ Bordogna was clear of the rest for third money.
The winner is a seven-year-old son of Muscle Hill who now shows seven wins on the season and 15 career victories. He is owned by Jose Cervantes and trained by Edward Hernandez.
Rush To The Bank (Nick Roland, $3.60) made his seventh trip to the winner’s circle this season, taking the $14,375 sophomore male trot event with a 1-1/2-length tally in 1:58.4 for owners Jeri Roland and Vickie Rush and trainer Dan Roland. The time was a new career mark for the son of Banker Volo.
The Royal Queen (Rick Magee, $6.60) made it three wins in a row to take the $14,375 sophomore filly trot in 1:58.4 for owner/trainer Justin Anfinson for her 11th career score.
SB Madam Secretary (Tony Kerwood, $24.20) scored a sharp gate-to-wire win in the $10,500 Open II Trot for owners Susan holm-Johansen and Deborah Hofsaess and trainer Ulf Holm-Johansen. The win was the second of the season for the four-year-old daughter of Tom Ridge.
The Wiseman Memorial event was partnered with the Twin-Cities Kickoff of the Colon Cancer Coalition’s 2021 ‘Get Your Rear In Gear’ campaign to raise awareness about colorectal cancer. Special race packets were sold in advance, Wiseman shirts were sold during the event, and race fans, fantasy players and horsemen made contributions to the cause to honour the memory of Steve Wiseman. The event was a tremendous success and drew a large crowd. A rainstorm moved in during race four but that did not dampen the spirits of all those in attendance and the racing on the track remained very competitive throughout the night, with longshots dominating the last several races on the card, which triggered some nice carryovers for the upcoming Tuesday night (August 24) program.
Drivers Nick Roland, Rick Magee, and Luke Plano all registered doubles on the Sunday program.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday with first post at 6:05 p.m. (CDT) and will feature a carryover of $2,387.02 in the 50-cent early Pick-4 wager, and a carryover of $2,769.79 in the 50-cent Hi-5 wager.
Running Aces management, in conjunction with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program, has announced a $7,500 guarantee for the Tuesday evening early Pick-4 wager, which starts in race two on the card. There is also a guaranteed pool of $3,000 for the late Pick-4, which will start in race six. Free past performance race pages for the early and late Pick-4 races can be found on the USTA website under the 'Handicapping' and 'Strategic Wagering' tabs.
(With files from Running Aces)