A trio of final preliminary races in the George Williams Memorial Series at Miami Valley went postward on Sunday (March 6) and the winners of all three $17,500 divisions set lifetime marks. 

The only repeat winner was Cody Hanover, who copped the third split in 1:52.1. The other winners were Smile Today and Native Chief.

Cody Hanover beat Rose Run Warner and Advance Man as the3-5 favourite, returning $3.20. The five-year-old son of Dragon Again is two-for-two on the year after a 2021 season that included three wins and $76,330 in earnings. Andre Nared is training the likely favourite for next week’s $30,000 championship for owner Lionel Watiker. Dan Noble drove the winner.

Smile Today followed up on his show finish in the first leg of the Williams Memorial with his impressive victory, which was over two seconds faster than his previous best. Randy Smith trains the four-year-old son of The Panderosa for his daughter Amelia. He paid $8.20 after besting ELs Rocker and Big Chief Arrow. Sam Widger steered the gelding to a 1:52.1 win.

Noble found room up the inside in deep stretch to pull off an upset win with Native Chief in 1:52.3. Amour Cruiser was a hard-charging second with favoured Tuggin On My Heart tiring in the stretch to finish third. Trent Tharps Jr. trains the gelded four-year-old son of Allamerican Native for David Moberly. Overlooked by the public due to recently graduating out of condition/claiming events, Native Chief paid $29.80 to his smaller group of believers.

The George Williams Memorial is one of eight events that collectively comprise the annual “Lebanon Legends” Series. The nominees were all non-winners of four pari-mutuel races or $40,000 lifetime as of the nomination deadline in February.

Miami Valley will be back in action Monday through Thursday of the coming week with a 4:05 p.m. (EST) post time each afternoon.

(Miami Valley Raceway)