Seventy-two $5,000 claimers – 36 males and 36 females – ‘survived' the frigid Monday and Tuesday matinees at Miami Valley Raceway and moved on to the second elimination round of the popular Survivor Series.
A total of 93 horses and geldings entered into ten $5,000 divisions Monday, with 66 fillies and mares dropping into seven heats on Tuesday. There will be four $6,000 elimination divisions for each sex next week, reduced to two $7,000 heats in Week Three, and culminating with nine males chasing a $20,000 championship purse on February 1 and nine fillies and mares hopeful of capturing the lion's share of their $17,500 final purse a day later.
A total of eight horses were claimed from the 'boys' bracket, with seven finishing in the top three and advancing to Round Two. Just two mares were collared via the claim box and both advanced into second-round action. Only horses claimed in Round One are susceptible to claim in Round Two, with a 20 per cent boost in base value.
Winners in Monday's ten eliminations were Digam (Jeremy Smith, 1:54.4, $4.80 to win), Become Legendary (Josh Sutton, 1:57, $11.20), Heavenly Beaches (Trace Tetrick, 1:55.4, $3.40), Nothingbutmach (Tyler Smith, 1:54.1, $4.40), Brown Titan (Jeremy Smith, 1:54.3, $33.80), Change Your Luck (Chris Page, 1:56.1, $7.20), Back At Cha (Tyler Smith, 1:57.2, $8.60), K Rs Cruiser (Trace Tetrick, 1:56.2, $19.80), Lol Ken Win (Jeremy Smith, 1:55.2, $10.80) and Wounded Warrior (Tyler Smith, 1:56.1, $11.20).
Tuesday's distaff winners were Our Lady Fitz (Tyler Smith, 2:00.2, $6.00), Jannine (Tyler Smith, 1:58.4, $4.80), Bruisers Sister (Dan Noble, 1:59.4, $9.40), Sam's Shuffle (Josh Sutton, 1:57.4, $11.20), Ms Toni Nigito (Lewayne Miller, 1:59, $4.40), Outback Alice (Randy Tharps, 1:59.2, $7.40) and Perfectly Royal (Tyler Smith, 1:58, $7.00).
(Miami Valley Raceway)