It took a couple qualifiers and one tightener race, but Talkaboutaqueen—the Ohio Sires Stakes aged mare champion in 2020—roared back to the head of her distaff class in Friday’s $22,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace at Miami Valley Raceway.

The six-year-old daughter of Oaks Enforcer won six times and hit the board in 14 of 24 starts last season, banking $89,626 for owner Rod Allums, Jr. and trainer Jayme Laing.

Driver Brett Miller was content to get away fourth from an inside post when Big Bad Jane (Dan Noble) and Checks On The Way (Trace Tetrick) sped through a highly contested first quarter which was reached in :26.4. Before the :55 half Miller decided to join the front end fray and had moved up to third on the outside. With a huge third quarter, Talkaboutaqueen stuck her white blaze face in front of Checks On The Way when the timer flashed 1:22.4.

With the early leaders backing through the field, favourites Bettors Up (LeWayne Miller) and The Bethinator (Tyler Smith)—who were assigned outside posts in the field of nine—came calling in the stretch, but ended up finishing second and third, respectively, as Talkaboutaqueen held on for the 1:52.2 triumph.

Talkaboutaqueen paid $18 to her faithful. Coupled with Bettors Up, the Exacta returned a whopping $238.20; while the 50-cent Trifecta including The Bethinator was worth $401.50.

A trio of $12,250 first leg divisions of the Herb Coven, Jr. Memorial Series, for distaff pacers shy of four wins or $40,000 lifetime, produced wins by two odds-on favourites and a strong second choice in the betting.

Real Rockin Ravi (Noble, $7.80) narrowly defeated favoured Keystone Eureka (Tetrick) in the initial split, clocked in 1:53.2. Better Days Ahead (Mitchell Cushing) garnered the show payoff.

Coconut Beach (Smith) beat Smoknthmnbluejeans (Miller) and Makeitagaingo (Jordan Ross) in an identical time of 1:53.2. Jeff Brewer owns and trains the winning four-year-old Art Major lass who paid $3.20 for the win.

The final division went to heavily favoured Anthem (Cushing, 1:54, $2.40) over Sara Jane (Jeremy Smith) and Harper (Tyler Smith).

The Saturday card at Miami Valley will include a contentious 10-horse $22,500 Open Handicap Pace, as well as four first leg divisions of the George Williams, Jr. Series for male pacers under four wins or $40,000 lifetime. Post time is 4:05 p.m.

(Miami Valley Raceway)