Columbus, MN — The featured event on the Tuesday (Sept. 14) 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 quarter post, after a :27.4 opening stanza, 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 favorite 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.
Numbered Account ($21.00) straightened for home with a two length lead and So So De Vie was the only one within range of the leader and he began to surge late but Numbered Account was already home for a one length score in 1:52. Castle Flight was home in third.
The winner is a 5-year-old gelding by Roddy’s Bags Again, owned by Cathy Dessert and trained by Justin Anfinson. He now shows six wins and earnings of $51,518 for the season and now has a career bankroll of $201,180.
Drivers Dean Magee and Luke Plano posted doubles on the program, while trainer Quentin Schneider also posted a double.
Live racing returns to Running Aces on Friday (Sept. 17) 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 (Sept. 18) 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.