Jimmy L shifted out of the pocket turning for home and rallied down the outside to capture the $20,548 final of the $8,904 claiming series at Miami Valley Raceway on Monday, March 16.

Southwind Onyx (Brett Miller) left quickly to take the early lead, while Jimmy L pressed on from the outside for Chris Page to eventually take the front past the opening quarter in :28.1. There was a lot of early action happening behind the front two as Tide Has Turned (David Miller), who got away third on the rail, was already out and moving before they were halfway through the turn and glided past Jimmy L for control going by the stands. Armabluechipboy N (Kayne Kauffman) headed an outer line of three to the half in :56.2.

Tide Has Turned led by two lengths at the midway point and Jimmy L sat in the pocket with Southwind Onyx on his tail. A three-wide Ys Cheddar Wheel (Luke Hanners) grinded past Armabluechipboy N down the backstretch, and his long brush carried him alongside Tide Has Turned at three-quarters in 1:25.2. Jimmy L, now third, was able to slip out in front of the tiring Armabluechipboy N on the final turn, while Ys Cheddar Wheel battled to clear Tide Has Turned. Jimmy L slid to the outside as they reached the top of the stretch, and the gelding kicked home strongly to pass the weary leaders for a 1-1/2-length victory in 1:56. Ys Cheddar Wheel was second over Tide Has Turned.

The Elson Miller-trained Jimmy L tallied his fourth win in his last five starts and his 16th career victory in 111 appearances. He took leg one of the series for owner Redder Racing LLC and was beaten by a head in the second round. The winnings pushed the lifetime earnings of the six-year-old son of Racing Hill-Natural Paradise to $173,199. He paid $4 to win.

David Miller and Page each had a driving triple on the 14-race card.

Racing action returns to Miami Valley on Tuesday with a post time of 4 p.m. 

(With files from Miami Valley Raceway)