Due to heavy rain raising safety concerns, Running Aces has cancelled the remainder of its card following the fourth race on Sunday, July 28.
The $50,000 Dan Patch Free For All Pace, originally scheduled as the eighth race, has been rescheduled for next Sunday, August 4.
The abbreviated program kicked off with the $23,611 Minnesota-sired sophomore male trot, where DP Freedoms Chrome ($2.10), driven by James Gould, triumphed by 3-1/4 lengths.
Gould quickly sent the talented son of For You Almostfree to the front from the outside post in the eight-horse field, working to clear Wherever Rio Goes (driven by Sean Smithpeters) shortly after the quarter, which was clocked at :28.1. Once at the lead, DP Freedoms Chrome maintained a comfortable advantage, with Wherever Rio Goes in the pocket and Bankers Quest (Mooney Svendsen) in third, while the fractions remained competitive at :56.4 and 1:25.4. As they approached the homestretch, DP Freedoms Chrome pulled away decisively, securing his 16th win in 17 career starts with a new lifetime record of 1:56.1. Wherever Rio Goes finished a solid second, while Last Of Braggert (Jacob Cutting) took third.
At just 21 years old, Gould, one of the youngest drivers at Running Aces, celebrated his 100th driving victory. He quickly got to work on his next milestone, achieving win number 101 two races later with American Cross ($4.20), a filly by Ice Machine, who recorded a career-best mile of 2:00.4 in the sophomore ‘B’ trot.
Both winners are owned by Aimes Racing and trained by Elvin Zimmerman.
Racing at Running Aces is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, July 30, with a nine-race program starting at 7 p.m. (CDT).