Golden Paradise became the third mare in three weeks to win the Open Mares Pace at Miami Valley Raceway, topping Up Front Flor Ida and Allbeastnobeauty in the $24,000 event on Friday night.
The winner, a six-year-old daughter of Allthatgltrsisgold who won ten races and $133,175 in 2019, was forced to come first-up into pedestrian fractions that resulted in a 1:54 score. Making her first start since October, Golden Paradise was eased away in third from a two-hole start by driver Trace Tetrick, but was flushed into the outer flow after a :27.1 opening panel. With the field double tiered from to back due to a :30-second quarter, Tetrick and his charge ground on the outside for the final 5/8ths of the mile before pulling away in the last sixteenth.
Dispatched at 9-2 odds, Golden Paradise returned $11.80. Owned by Sam Schillaci, Wrenn Jr Racing LLC and trainer Tyler George, she now has 29 wins in 85 starts on her lifetime resume good for $256,802 in earnings.
Finalists were determined in a pair of Claim To Fame series on Friday night.
Johns Baby Girl (Tyler Smith, 1:52.3, $3.60) and Danikova (Chris Page, 1:53.3, $7.00) both repeated in the $20,000 claiming mares division. They will be joined by Part Time Hanover, Youlookhot, Shes Gorgeous Lady, Model, Velocity Lana, Sumthenforthegirlz and Atlantic Star if all nine leading money winners enter the $30,000 final leg.
In the division for $12,500 pacing horses and geldings, the winners were Panoramic View (Sam Widger, 1:52.3, $8.00), Hal N Sammy (Brett Miller, 1:53, $8.40) and Hopetobefirst (Trace Tetrick, 1:53.3, $29.60). Rounding out the $25,000 final field, if all enter, will be Hell On Wheels, Boogie Nights, Moonwards Hanover, Rolling Thunder, Ahdoughnolum and Sedona Seelster—with a strict limit of no more than two horses for any owner or trainer.
Racing resumes Saturday night at Miami Valley with a 6:05 p.m. post time. The card features a $25,000 Open I Pace, a $20,000 Open II Pace, and three $22,500 divisions of second round Claim To Fame action for $20,000 male pacers.
(Miami Valley Raceway)