Three divisions of second round action in the George ‘Red’ Owens Memorial late closing series were featured on the Sunday (Feb. 16) matinee at Miami Valley Raceway.
The results of the trio of $12,000 splits determined the nine finalists for next Sunday’s $20,000 championship tilt. The Owens Memorial is one of nine "Lebanon Legends" series that honours the memory of notable horsemen, now deceased, who were among the early heroes at nearby Lebanon Raceway, which now serves as a training center for many Miami Valley participants. A total of 27 horses, all fillies or mares that were non-winners of two races or $20,000 at the start of the series, were nominated.
Jazzie Babe copped the first division in 1:54.4, edging Pray The Rosary and Valendougha. It was the fifth win in 15 starts for the late-blooming eight-year-old daughter of Dontgetinmyway, who didn’t commence her racing career until age seven. She is owned and trained by Perry Smith and had Trevor Smith in the bike.
Crowntimerockette, driven by Brett Miller, was the quickest of the three winners, turning the tables from Leg 1 on runner-up Hilary Barry N in 1:53.4. It was the third success for the three-year-old daughter of Pet Rock, trained by Tom Blankenship for owner Jason Shumway, who lowered her career best time by over three seconds. Rockinattheryman closed well to secure the show finish.
Big Bad Mosa, in rein to Trace Tetrick, became the only two-time winner in the series when he scored in 1:55 over Onspeed N and Sweet Ginger. Ronnie Roberts trains the three-year-old filly by Big Bad John for the Watson Stables. She, too, lowered her lifetime-best clocking with her fourth win in just 13 trips behind a starting gate.
The field for the championship finals in the Legends series is determined by money earnings in the two preliminary legs. The "Red" Owens Memorial finalists, in order of earnings, will be Big Bad Mosa, Crowntimerockette, Jazzie Babe, Hilary Barry N, Pray The Rosary, Onspeed N, Rockinattheryman, Lookintomyeyes and Sweet Ginger.
Racing resumes Monday afternoon (Feb. 17) at Miami Valley, featuring two divisions of the second round of the Omar Hiteman Memorial series as well as the final two elimination heats in the popular Survivor Series for $5,000 male claiming pacers. Post time is 2:05 p.m.
(Miami Valley Raceway)