The featured event on the Tuesday night (Sept. 14) harness racing program at Running Aces was the $13,800 Open Handicap Pace, which drew a talented field of six pacers.
Castle Flight (Nick Roland) was fastest off the gate to get the first call, while Numbered Account (Dean Magee) also left alertly and So So De Vie (Luke Plano) surged from post five.
So So De Vie made the lead just past the :27.4 quarter-mile post and led until just past the :56.3 half-mile marker before Numbered Account rallied first-over. Parklane Jet (Mooney Svendsen) also joined the outer flow and race favourite SB Bodacious (Rick Magee) got underway from the back of the pack before having to move three-wide around Parklane Jet. As they headed for the far turn, Numbered Account forged to the lead and took off for home while registering the three-quarters in 1:23.3 for a fast third panel in 27 seconds.
Numbered Account ($21) straightened for home with a two-length lead and So So De Vie was the only one within range of the leader. He began to surge late but Numbered Account was already home for a one-length score in 1:52. Castle Flight finished third.
The winner is a five-year-old gelding by Roddys Bags Again, owned by Cathy Dessert and trained by Justin Anfinson. He now shows six wins from 22 starts and earnings of $51,518 for the season, and now has a career bankroll of more than $200,000.
Drivers Dean Magee and Luke Plano posted doubles on the program, while trainer Quentin Schneider also had a pair of winners.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Friday with first post at 6:05 p.m. (CDT). The 2021 season at Running Aces will culminate with the Night of Champions program on Saturday, which will feature a state record of $560,000 in purses across the 12 championship races on closing night. There will be a guaranteed pool of $7,500 for the 20-cent Pick-5 on Saturday as well, with mandatory payouts in all pools.
(With files from Running Aces)