Two $15,000 finals of the Claim To Fame Series were contested Wednesday (January 28) at Miami Valley Raceway. The finales for the $8,000 claiming mares and for the $5,000 claiming geldings were on tap, and when the smoke cleared it was Shes A Ball and Winchester in the winner’s circle.

Driver Kyle Ater steered both winners, but used completely different tactics in the two dashes.

Ater sent Shes A Ball alertly from her inside post position and cut all the fractions to best Brookletssugarland (driven by Jeff Nisonger) and CCs Munchkin (Greg Grismore) in the mares’ clash. As the lukewarm 8-5 favourite, Shes A Ball cruised through fractions of :27, :55.4 and 1:24 before closing the deal in 1:53.3.

Shes A Ball’s victory capped quite a night for trainer Deborah Swartz, who had four steeds from her stable visit the winner’s circle.

Shes A Ball was plucked from a $5,000 claiming event in early December by owners Bradley Delaney and Scott Albaugh and has since won five of six races and banked an even $20,000.

As second choice in the $5,000 horses and geldings final, Winchester was wrestled off the starting gate by Ater and watched a :26.4 speed duel develop up front between AKs Livin Large and Corey Road. After a demanding half in :56.2, Winchester was moved into third-over position in the outer flow past the 1:25.1 clocking. The entire field was well bunched at the head of the stretch with Ater swinging three-wide with Winchester full of pace. He gobbled up the tiring frontrunners and was strongest at the finish clocked in 1:54.1.

Winchester, who has spent time in the Ater Stable in the past, was claimed by Dan Ater, Kyle’s father, for $5,500 last week and returned immediate dividends by winning the $15,000 final. Fortunes Jenna (Josh Sutton) finished second with longshot Mommas Jolt (Jeremy Smith) completing the trifecta ticket.

Due to the fact that fifty $5,000 claimers participated in the series, an $8,000 consolation was also carded. Jack Apple (Jason Brewer) bested Spirits Gone Wild (Randy Tharps) and Easton Bound (Kayne Kauffman) in 1:54. Brewer co-owns the winner with William Eltzroth.

Driver Shawn Barker II scored a hat trick on the program, winning with Eagle Jacob, Sissboombah and Ricky Blue Eyes, all trained by Deborah Swartz.

Racing resumes Thursday night at Miami Valley with a 6:30 p.m. first-race post time.

(With files from Miami Valley)