GD Western Joe pulled a mild upset over Stars Align N in Miami Valley’s Saturday (Jan. 9) $22,500 Open Pace.
The six-year-old son of Real Desire won twice and was runner-up twice in his last four starts at Hollywood Dayton Raceway and continued his torrid pace of impressive performances in his first effort at Miami Valley.
Driver Chris Page fired his charge from post 8, forcing his prime adversary Stars Align N, who started from the nine slot, to round the first turn on the outside before letting him clear to the front nearing the :26.4 first quarter beam. A pocket ride from there to the head of the stretch poised GD Western Joe for a final attempt to get by the favourite, surging to the lead just steps from the finish of a 1:52.2 mile.
GD Western Joe is part of the Burke Brigade and has now scored 26 wins from 97 starts, with earnings over a half-million dollars.
Five divisions of Claim To Fame races for $20,000 male pacers also were featured on the Saturday program. Winners were Dubious Claim (Josh Sutton, 1:53.3, $61.60), Windsun Gotham (Jeremy Smith, 1:54.3, $18.20), Absolut Rocks (Dan Noble, 1:54.2, $5.80), Townline Flight (Sutton, 1:53, $25) and Jet Rock (Noble, 1:51.4, $11.20).
A total of 10 horses were claimed out of the five divisions, although none of the five winners were among them.
Miami Valley races on Sunday afternoon (Jan. 10) with a 2:05 p.m. (EST) post time.
(Miami Valley Raceway)