On Sunday night, September 15, Running Aces showcased Minnesota-sired sophomore trotters in two divisions alongside the weekly Open Handicap Trot.
In the $28,378 ‘A’ Minnesota split, DP Freedoms Chrome continued to impress, as the For You Almostfree colt recorded his 11th consecutive victory, posting a remarkable mile of 1:54, setting a new track record for three-year-old trotters in Minnesota.
Quick off the mark from post two, top filly Baby Flash (driven by Mooney Svendsen) battled fiercely with DP Freedoms Chrome, who started from post six, as they raced through a swift opening fraction of :27.3. Al Mar Puredelight settled in third, tracking the leaders.
At the quarter pole, DP Freedoms Chrome seized control and maintained solid middle fractions of :56 and 1:24.4, while Baby Flash kept a close position behind him. As they approached the homestretch, DP Freedoms Chrome steadily pulled away, finishing 7-1/2 lengths ahead of Baby Flash, with Al Mar Puredelight taking third in the record-setting mile.
Trained by Elvin Zimmerman, DP Freedoms Chrome remains unbeaten at the Minnesota track, boasting 21 victories in 22 career starts and earnings exceeding $200,000. He returned $2.10 to win.
In the $18,919 ‘B’ division, Piggly Wiggly (Nick Roland) executed a strong gate-to-wire performance to notch her fourth win of the season, finishing 3-1/4 lengths ahead of Magnolia Moonlight (James Lackey) in a time of 2:00.1. The daughter of Southwind Flash is owned by Set The Pace Racing and trained by Roland.
Majestic J (Tyler Miller) triumphed in the $20,946 Open Handicap Trot, making an impressive mid-race surge to take command before pulling away to secure a 4-1/2-length victory over longshot Help Page (Sean Smithpeters) and Toccoa Falls (Williams Hernandez). A five-year-old son of Walner, he is owned by Stephanie Longo and trained by Elson Miller, boasting 14 career wins and earnings of $336,936.
Drivers Nick Roland, Dean Magee, Brady Jenson, and Tyler Miller each scored doubles during the Sunday card.
Live harness racing will return to Running Aces on Tuesday, September 17, with the first race slated for 7 p.m. (CDT), kicking off the final week of the 2024 racing season. The concluding programs of the season will take place on Friday, September 20, and Saturday, September 21, featuring Champions Weekend—12 Minnesota-sired championship races with combined purses of USD 780,000. Post time for both days is set for 6 p.m. (CDT).