Party At The Banks rushed from the rear of the field to snag the $24,000 Open Trot at Miami Valley Raceway on Tuesday (Jan. 28).
Driver Chris Page was content to ease his winning mare off the gate, landing last as the leaders tripped the initial beam in :27.1. Party At The Banks was pulled to the outside just before front stepping Sweet Mr Pinetucky reached the midway point in :56.4. Making steady progress during the third quarter, the six-year-old daughter of Break The Bank K moved up to fourth in second-over position at the 1:25.3 three quarters station with Peggy Sue in tow. The pair of mares still had a half dozen lengths to make up as they swung off the final turn. But with the leader’s strides shortening late in the mile, Party At The Bank slid in front in the final strides to win in 1:55.2 over Peggy Sue.
Party At The Banks, the 2019 aged Ohio Sires Stakes champion, was making her third start of the 2020 season. Racing for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi, she now sports 27 wins in 62 lifetime tries and a bankroll of $326,548.
The final pair of Claim To Fame Series championships were also contested on Tuesday.
Smash, driven by John DeLong, led Galyns Gift and M E Radar Girl past the wire in 1:55.4 to be crowned queen of the $12,500 claiming mares. Owner Wilfong Racing LLC got the winner’s share of the $22,500 purse. Peter Redder trains Smash, who returned $17.40 to her faithful in a mild upset.
Legal Transfer, driven by Jeremy Smith, copped the split for $8,000 male claiming pacers, topping Beachboydesire by a head with Colossal just a half length back at the end of the 1:54.4 mile. Trainer Adam Short also owns the 11-year-old winner, who has banked over a quarter million dollars in his career. Legal Transfer paid $5.60 to win.
(Miami Valley Raceway)