There's absolutely no doubt that the trotting mare Refined is in fine form. The daughter of Uncle Peter, despite being handicapped to the outside of a talented full field, swept to her third Open class victory in her last four starts in 1:52.4 on Thursday (Dec. 10) at Hollywood Dayton Raceway.
Sensing a torrid early pace, driver Brett Miller tucked Refined into the three-hole along the pylons halfway through the :26.1 opening panel. After just three-eighths of a mile, however, she was flushed back into the outer flow by Pass The Vape (Trevor Smith), and she responded by taking command just before the :56.1 halfway juncture. Following a :28 third quarter, Miller and Refined tacked on a :28.3 closing quarter to easily hold off Pass The Vape and third place finisher Whata Swan (Tyler Smith) in the day's $17,800 feature.
With her 11th career triumph, Refined is now just $600 short of the $200,000 earnings plateau for owner Carlo Poliseno. The four-year-old is trained by Virgil Morgan Jr., who is the leading conditioner at the current Hollywood Dayton meet.
Racing resumes Friday (Dec. 11) with a 4 p.m. post time.
(Hollywood Dayton Raceway)