The opening leg of the End Of Season Claiming Series was contested at Hiawatha Horse Park on Thursday evening, with four divisions going postward for $2,700 apiece
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Bah Nessa survived a first-over journey to win her assignment for driver Nick Steward and trainer Joe Cirasuola. The five-year-old Cammibest miss, who is owned by Candace Cirasuola of Durand, MI, drew clear to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:57.1 over Dare A Dilly and Odds On Diana.
More Dreams also used closing skills to take the second division in 1:59.1 for the tandem of driver Rob Sparling, Jr. and owner/trainer Don Meekison, Jr. of Shakespeare, ON. The daughter of Apaches Fame prevailed by a half-length margin over One More Hug. Ja Taime was third.
Kissing Camels was parked every step of the mile, but she was still the best for driver Rob Sparling, Jr. and trainer Rene Allard. The daughter of Astreos, who is owned by Anne O’Keefe of Ferryland, NL, drove away to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:56.1. Kaleidoscope was next best and Chellos Sin D finished third.
JJ Silver Spur came through as the even-money choice in the final division, and the mare also used off-the-pace tactics to post the 1:57.1 victory. Donnie Rankin, Jr. mapped out the winning trip for the Judy Roegner-trained daughter of Hi Ho Silverheels, who is owned by Matthew Percy of Canton and Arthur Scala of Dearborn, MI. You Raise Me Up was a narrowly-beaten runner-up, and TR Native Dance was a lapped-on third.
The second leg of the series is scheduled for October 21, with the $10,000 (added) final slated for October 28.
To view Thursday’s results, click here.