Aintnothingucando, stepping up into the $49,315 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace for the first time, toughed out a first-over grind to capture the featured event at Miami Valley Raceway on Thursday, March 5.

Leaving from post two, the 6-1 Aintnothingucando got away third for David Miller as Hey Hey Mama (Luke Hanners) went forward to take control at the opening quarter in :27.1. From there, Fearless Ginger (Chris Page) quickly pulled from the pocket to retake the lead. Near the half in :56.1, fellow Ron Burke trainee Aintnothingucando pulled first-over to challenge for the lead and the stablemates battled down the backside. The two were nose-to-nose past the three-quarters in 1:23.4 and clashed around the last turn with Aintnothingucando taking a short lead as they straightened for home. From there on, Aintnothingucando was on cruise control as she sailed home in 1:51.4. Hey Hey Mama finished second, 1-3/4 lengths behind, while Hungry Lizzo (Trevor Smith) was third.

For Aintnothingucando, it was her third victory in a row and 16th lifetime win in 51 starts. The four-year-old daughter of Odds On Equuleus-Ever After is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. She paid $14.40 to win.

Sunburst, ignored by the bettors for the second week in a row, stepped up into the sub-featured $30,137 optional-claiming event for fillies and mares and upset at 16-1.

Coming off a 31-1 stunner at a lower conditioned level last out, Sunburst slid back into fourth along the rail early as Victorious Farah (Kayne Kauffman) and Golden Magic (Marc St. Louis Jr.) duelled for the lead to the quarter in :27.2. Golden Magic dropped into the gapped pocket coming off the turn, and Miss Hula Dancer (Tyler Smith) immediately shifted out in front of the outer flow that was fast approaching. As they passed the half in :56.2, Miss Hula Dancer eclipsed the leader with Sunburst now third-over after shifting out in a flurry of activity in front of the stands. Victorious Farah and Miss Hula Dancer slugged it out to three-quarters in 1:23.4, while the second-over Maddies Delite (Luke Hanners) swung-three wide on the final turn, allowing Sunburst to slide up and latch on to Miss Hula Dancer. In the stretch, Miss Hula Dancer finally took the outright lead, but Sunburst popped out from behind her cover and charged to prevail by a length in 1:53.1. Miss Hula Dancer finished a strong second and Golden Magic completed the ticket.

Sunburst secured her sixth lifetime win in 28 outings and her second in a row for trainer Jason Irwin. Glenn Goller and Stephen Demeter own the four-year-old Bettors Wish-Sun Shines Bright mare. The win price was $34.20.

David Miller led all drivers with a three-win night while Luke Hanners and Cam McCown each had doubles on the 14-race card. Trainer Mike Hitchcock swept the early double with Kilauea and Duration, the latter making an impressive start to her four-year-old campaign by winning her first two outings of the year in strong 1:51.1 efforts.

With week number nine in the books, the driving title remains tight with just one win separating the top two. The top five consists of David Miller (77), Chris Page (76), Brett Miller (61), Luke Hanners (57) and Jeremy Smith (45).

The training title fight is also very close, with Ron Burke (38) now taking a one-win lead over Virgil Morgan Jr. (37). Heather France (27), Steve Carter (23) and Elson Miller (14) round out the top five.

Racing action will resume at Miami Valley on Sunday with a post time of 4 p.m.

(Miami Valley Raceway)