A jammed leader board atop the Omar Hiteman Memorial Series standings at Miami Valley Raceway makes for an interesting championship when the top nine money winners gather on Monday, Feb. 24 for the $20,000 final.
The series commenced with 27 nominees who were all non-winners of two pari-mutuel races or $20,000 lifetime.
The final preliminary leg was contested in two $12,000 divisions on Monday afternoon with Friday Night Blues and Sunshines Finest each getting their initial wins in the series and securing spots in next week’s ‘big dance.’
Friday Night Blues (Cam McCown) scored as the favourite over longshot Fast Track (John DeLong) and Big Bank Hank (LeWayne Miller). The four-year-old altered son of Ohio stallion Pet Rock won 10 races in 2019, but all at county fairs. After an uneventful month to start the 2020 season at Woodbine Mohawk Park, he was returned to Ohio and the care of Jessica McCown for the Hiteman late closer.
Sunshines Finest (Brett Miller) pulled a mild upset in the second split, topping favoured Fishin For Apples (DeLong) and Velocity Komodo (Mark Evers) in 1:53.2. Owned by Thestable Sunshinesfinest, the winning four-year-old son of Sunshine Beach also started the current campaign at Woodbine Mohawk Park before being shipped south to the Virgil Morgan, Jr. Stable for this series.
The nine finalists for the Hiteman Memorial, based on series earnings, will be Fishin For Apples, Sunshines Finest, Friday Night Blues, Captain Sunshine, American Trademark, Fast Track, E R Hotshot, Farmers Only and Spoiled Rockin.
The popular Survivor Series for male $5,000 claiming pacers staged its final elimination round on Monday as well. The series started with 76 horses in eight divisions, was whittled to 40 in four divisions in Round 2, and reduced to 10 finalists from a pair of Round 3 elimination heats. Purses in the first three elimination rounds escalated from $5,000 to $6,000 to $7,500, while the final next Monday will chase a $20,000 bounty.
Longshot Bettor Win (LeWayne Miller, 1:56, $40.60) and favoured Hit And Giggle A (Brett Miller, 1:55.2, $6.40) managed narrow decisions in the final preliminary heats.
The remaining finalists hoping to be crowned the King of the Bottom Claimers will be Amasa Al, Pence Hanover, Latenite Trick, Rivers Crest, I Am Will, A J Corbelli, Khan Blue Chip and Creighton Hanover.
(Miami Valley Raceway)