Angel Nation sped to the quickest trotting mile of the year at Miami Valley Raceway on Wednesday (Feb. 15) in winning the $30,000 Open Trot.
With the track's leading driver Trace Tetrick in his bike, the six-year-old son of Archangel lead from start to finish, posting fractions of :27.1, :56.2 and 1:24.1 before stopping the timer in 1:52.4. A strong speed bias seemed evident long before the 10th and featured race, making Tetrick’s quick move off the gate seem like the obvious move with the 6-5 favourite. Rose Run Valor tried valiantly to catch Angel Nation in the stretch. Bentley Blu garnered the show dough.
Mike Hitchcock trains Angel Nation for owner William Hartt, who enjoyed watching his outstanding trotter win his second Open in seven tries this season at Miami Valley, to go with three seconds and a show finish. A nine-time winner in 2022, the gelding banked $133,570 in Ohio as one of Ohio’s top squaregaiters.
Racing resumes Thursday (Feb. 16) afternoon with a 4 p.m. (EST) post time.
(Miami Valley Raceway)