Friskie Lil Devil, who captured the $200,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Championship for freshman pacing fillies in her final 2014 start, opened her 2015 campaign by copping the $38,000 James K. Hackett Memorial Championship at Miami Valley Raceway on Friday night.

Driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. decided to take the safest route possible by leaving alertly and cutting all the fractions in an impressive gate-to-wire performance. The pride of the Lil Devil Stable, the Brian Brown trainee coasted through quarter splits of :27.3, :57.4, 1:27.1 and 1:55.4 to garner the relatively easy one and a half length victory over stablemate Corner Girl (Josh Sutton) and E Ticket Ride (Dan Noble).

With the Hackett victory, Friskie Lil Devil is approaching $200,000 in career earnings from just nine lifetime races with three wins and six place finishes.

Sent off at 3-5 odds on Friday, she will undoubtedly be favoured again next weekend when the first legs of the 2015 Ohio Sires Stakes for sophomore pacers and trotters are scheduled at Miami Valley.

The Brian Brown stable enjoyed a huge night as Candys A Virgin also captured the $17,050 Fillies and Mares Open Pace in her initial 2015 start; and her stablemate Colors A Virgin won the $21,000 distaff Invitational at Hoosier Park within the same hour. Both daughters of Always A Virgin, owned by Emerald Highlands Farm, are being pointed next at the $75,000 (est.) Chip Noble Memorial Grand Circuit stake for older female pacers on Sunday, May 3, which is closing day on the Miami Valley season.

Reinsman Chris Page guided Candys A Virgin towards the front from the outside post position in a field of eight, gaining command just past a :26.2 first quarter. After tripping the middle teletimer beams in :54.3 and 1:23.3, the grey four-year-old posted a :28.3 final panel to win by a comfortable length in 1:52.1. Favourite Native Dream (Dan Noble) sat the pocket throughout and finished second with Tarport Belle (Josh Sutton) finishing strong to complete the trifecta ticket.

Page had five trips to the winner's circle during the 12-race card. His other winners were Fox Valley Bonita (1:56.3), trotter Mischievous Jesse (1:58.1), Sectionline Aqua (1:53.2) and Buckeye Thea (1:54.1).

(Miami Valley Raceway)