Gandalf and Nick Roland lit up the tote board Tuesday, May 19 in the $7,200 conditioned pace at Running Aces. The duo rallied home for the win in 1:55.2 as one of three Indiana sired winners on the card.
When the gate opened, Gandalf was ready to roll and moved out with speed from the center of the track. An extra surge to the lead heading into the turn put him easily on the lead before race favorite Spiritofanoutlaw and Brady Jenson moved around to secure the top spot just before the quarter in :28.1. From there, Spiritofanoutlaw was able to back off the pace to the half in :57.3. Roland had a huge hold on Gandalf, who was waiting patiently in the two hole.
Horses began to form a second line of attack on the outside of Spiritofanoutlaw and Gandalf, who picked up the pace in the final turn. Spiritofanoutlaw made a bad break, scattering the horses behind him with Gandalf experiencing a little interference before getting around the breaking horse.
At the head of the lane, Gandalf was the leader with The Minnesota Kid and Gerald Longo and Handsome Harvey and Luke Plano bearing down on him from the outside. In the end, Gandalf was a decisive winner by one length over The Minnesota Kid. Handsome Harvey was a nose back in third.
Gandalf was totally overlooked at the windows, paying $27.80 for the win. The five-year-old Always a Virgin gelding is a homebred for the Roland family of Iowa. Set the Pace Racing owns the gelding with Duane and Connie Roland serving as breeders. Nick Roland also trains. It was the fourth win in six starts for Gandalf this season. Overall, he has 17 wins and more than $64,000 in earnings. His career best time of 1:52.4 was taken last year at four at Running Aces.
Earlier in the card, Lemmiwinks and Josiah Miller moved in first over fashion in the second half of the race before grinding their way to the wire for the win in 1:55.1. Mondaymorningmerle and Luke Plano finished a half length back in second over Bing Bang Boom and Gerald Longo for third.
Lemmiwinks paid $6.60 for the win. The three-year-old son of JK Endofanera is owned by Josiah Miller and Mel Mullet of Arkansas. Josiah Miller trains the gelding bred and raised by Black and White Stable and Sara Haynes of Indiana. It was win number three of 2026 for Lemmiwinks, who raced last year at two without any trips to the winner’s circle. His career best time of 1:54.0 was taken earlier this spring at Miami Valley.
