A full field of nine Open trotters were featured on the Sunday (Jan. 31) matinee at Miami Valley Raceway, chasing a $20,000 purse. With the dominant trotter Penn on a sabbatical, a host of other top trotters all went into the fray believing this could be their week.
When the dust settled, Martz Time (Trace Tetrick) had garnered top laurels with Blackwolf Run (Randy Tharps) finishing second and Herbies Wildflower (Doug Rideout), one of two mares in the field, collecting the show proceeds.
Tetrick and Martz Time were content to let the other contenders tussle early while they saved ground and energy for a successful late rally. Both Blackwolf Run and Tinder (Dan Noble) left alertly from the two outside post positions, with Tinder crossing over just before the :27.1 first quarter marker. Blackwolf Run opted to give up a possible pocket ride, instead retaking the front end early in the second quarter. By the time the halfway beam was tripped in :57, Herbies Wildflower had moved to the outside to challenge with Rehab Mountain (Tyler Smith) following that live cover in second-over position. There was not change in the four leaders before the 1:25.4 third quarter station, except that Martz Time had moved into the outer flow and was about to spring wide for the stretch drive. Blackwolf Run relinquished ground begrudgingly, but Tetrick’s strategy paid dividends when Martz Time shoved his head in front just a few strides from the wire for the 1:55.2 victory.
“Junior” Haynes trains the seven-year-old son of Primetime Ranger for partners John McGill and Brian Carsey. It was win No. 29 from a career of just 126 starts for Martz Time, who ran his career earnings to $342,981 with the triumph.
Martz Time, sent off at odds of 5-1, returned $12.60 to his $2 win backers. Longshot Blackwolf Run sweetened the exacta to a handsome $333.60 return while Herbies Wildflower completed a $2 trifecta ticket worth a whopping $1,100.60.
The $35,000 championship leg of the Claim To Fame Series for $20,000 claiming horses and geldings was also presented on the Sunday matinee. Master Of Desire (Josh Sutton) pulled a minor upset as he beat Mr Dennis (Ken Holliday) and Supreme Z Tam (LeWayne Miller) in 1:52.3.
Sutton got away mid-pack through the :26.2 opening panel, but made a bold brush to the front before the :55.2 half. With the others jockeying for position during the third stanza, Master Of Desire stopped the timer in 1:23 before throwing a :29.3 final panel to hold off Mr Dennis and Supreme Z Tam, who raced first and second up in the outer flow through much of the mile, for the lucrative championship victory.
(With files from Miami Valley Raceway)