On a win streak since returning to the track in late May, Bordogna crossed the finish line first again, taking the $10,000 Open Handicap Pace on Sunday (June 28) at Running Aces while also collecting his fifth-straight win of the season.
Banker Volo left alertly from post 5 for a short-lived early lead before driver Pat Berry rolled with Magic MVP to the front to cut the fractions. Rick Magee also left alertly with Bordogna and tucked into third. The quarter flashed in :27.3 and Berry stepped on the brakes to slow to a half in :57.3. As the tempo slowed, Bordogna went into attack mode and set sail on a first-over grind just past the half mile marker, while My Uncle Cuz picked up the live cover.
Magic MVP picked up the tempo in the third split for a 1:25.4 clocking to three-quarters while still two lengths clear of the rest. But as they neared the homestretch Bordogna turned up the pressure and forged to even terms. The final sixteenth was a ding-dong battle between those two, with Bordogna kicking home just a bit faster to score a hard-fought win by a neck in 1:55.1.
Bordogna is a four-year-old stallion by Trixton out of the Credit Winner mare Lima Playmate, he is owned by Cathy Dessert and Ken Stauffer, and trained by Justin Anfinson. He paid $8.60 to win.
The Sunday card also featured three divisions of the three-year-old Minnesota-Sired trotters. The "A" grouping competed for a purse of $11,500 with Teachmehowtotory (Nick Roland) scoring a 13-1 upset ($28.20) in a career best 2:00.3 for trainer Jessica Johnson and Set The Pace Racing LLC.
The "B" split went for $6,900 and was dominated by race-favourite Musclestobragon (Don Harmon, $4.40) for trainer Justin Anfinson and owners Jesse and Ben De Long in 2:01.2. The same connections scored in the $4,600 "C" division with huge favorite Double My Decker (Pat Berry, $2.20) along with additional owner Eric De Long, that mile was also trotted in 2:01.2.
Nick Roland and Don Harmon each turned in a driving triple on Sunday, while Rick Magee picked up a double. On the training side Justin Anfinson led the day with 3 winners and Jessica Johnson picked up a double.
Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday (June 30) with first post at 1:00 p.m. (CDT) and features a carryover in the Jackpot Pick-5 wager of $2,601.19.
(Running Aces)