No Foolin April sustained prolonged pressure and held off a host of late challengers to win a three-horse photo in the $48,649 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace at Miami Valley Raceway on Thursday, Feb. 5.

Leaving from post five, Brett Miller and No Foolin April took command and led the field past the opening quarter in :27.2. Finding no room at the inn, a parked-out Naked On A Hill (David Miller) had to go the long way and began pressing on from sixth to end up the lone outside challenger as she closed to within a neck of No Foolin April at the half in :56.1. As they turned to the backstretch, Naked On A Hill continued her push to the front and eclipsed No Foolin April, but the pacesetter got back in gear and closed the gap to a neck as they reached three-quarters in 1:23.2. 

A three-mare matchup kicked off on the final turn as No Foolin April led a tiring Naked On A Hill by a nose and a three-wide Fearless Ginger (Chris Page) threw her hat in the ring. No Foolin April dispatched both of those rivals, then held off the surging Rose Run Vision (Lewayne Miller) and Tarapasta (Austin Hanners) to win by a nose in 1:52.3. Rose Run Vision was a narrow second over Tarapasta.

No Foolin April won for the fifth time in her last seven starts, all in Open company, for owner-trainer Adam Short. The five-year-old Nob Hill High-Princess Baby Ella mare is now 19-for-57 lifetime. She returned $3 at the windows.

Driver Jeremy Smith led all reinsmen with a triple on the 14-race card. Tyler Smith, Brett Miller, and Luke Hanners each had a double.

David Miller continues to show the way in the drivers' standings with 45 wins, 15 of which came this week. Chris Page (36), Jeremy Smith (34), Brett Miller (31) and Luke Hanners (25) round out the top five. On the training side, Virgil Morgan Jr. leads with 20 wins. Ron Burke and Heather France remained tied for second with 15 while Steve Carter has 13 wins and Elson Miller and Ken Rucker round out the list with a tie for fifth on eight wins.

Racing action returns to Miami Valley on Sunday with a special post time of noon.

(Miami Valley Raceway)