Driver Chris Page piloted R Gauwitz Hanover to victory $35,000 final of the Claim To Fame Series for $20,000 claimers and Angelo J Fra in the $25,000 Open Handicap Pace on Saturday, Jan. 27 at Miami Valley Raceway.
Page positioned R Gauwitz Hanover third along the pylons through fractions of :26.3, :56 and 1:24.3 before seizing an opening around the final bend to swing three wide for the stretch drive, exploding to a three-length victory in 1:53.1. Favoured Dovuto Hanover finished second, with M G Kid riding the pocket for third.
It was the 39th career victory for R Gauwitz Hanover, a nine-year-old Modern Art gelding owned and trained by Clarence Foulk. The winner’s share of the purse ballooned his lifetime earnings to $395,033.
In the Open Pace, Angelo J Fra took the lead through a :26.2 over a sloppy track. With Feelnlikearockstar unable to find a seat along the pylons, he pressured the pacesetter to a :54.3 half and to three-quarters in 1:22.1. The six-year-old The Panderosa gelding managed to tack on a closing :29 quarter to hold off runner-up My Hero Ron and show-finisher Manhattan Beach.
Kris Hinchcliff trains Angelo J Fra for the Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLc. It was his 20th win in just 86 starts lifetime and raised his earnings to $282,794.
The Sunday, Jan. 28 matinee at Miami Valley will feature a $24,000 Open Handicap Trot, as well as the $40,000 championship final of the Claim To Fame series for $30,000 claimers.
Post time is 2:05 p.m.
(With files from Miami Valley Raceway)