Hamsandwich, a four-year-old son of Tellitlikeitis, captured the $22,500 championship leg of the Omar Hiteman Memorial series Monday at Miami Valley on Monday.
It was his third straight success in the series, this one clocked in 1:54. Leading driver Trace Tetrick guided the odds-on favourite for owner-trainer Adam Short. The Hiteman series, one of nine “Lebanon Legends” events honouring notable former southwest Ohio horsemen in February and March, featured non-winners of two races or $20,000 lifetime through the nomination date. Hamsandwich will likely graduate to the George Williams Memorial for non-winners of four races or $40,000.
As he did in the two preliminary legs, Tetrick was satisfied to settle Hamsandwich into a mid-pack position until flushing live cover nearing the half, which carried him until halfway around the final bend. At that point, as he so often does, Tetrick swung Hamsandwich three wide and they roared down the middle of the stretch to a convincing victory.
Gambler Panic (Jason Brewer) put up a courageous fight before succumbing to the winner about 100 yards shy of the finish line. The pair produced a $16.80 Perfecta. Longshot Bizys Beatle (Jared Seekman) was best of the rest and completed a $101.70 50-cent Trifecta return.
At first there were 80…then 40…20…and 10. Now there’s just one—Do Over Hanover—who reigns as King Of The Hill in the $5,000 claiming ranks at Miami Valley Raceway. The eight-year-old son of Western Ideal survived all four legs of the popular annual Survivor Series to claim the crown and the winner’s share of the $20,000 championship pot on Monday afternoon.
Do Over Hanover was plucked for $5,000 from the first leg by trainer Michelle Finn for the MM&D Racing Stable, when he finished second despite starting from the outside nine-hole behind the gate. Finn enlisted driver Tyler Smith to try and advance from Round Two, despite another outside draw. All the pair did was upset their second round combatants with a 1:53.3 front end score at 7-1 odds. Do Over established himself as one of two heavy favourites for the lucrative final by following up with another gate-to-wire victory in Round Three, this victory by over six lengths.
Main Survivor Series rival Montana Pablo A (Trace Tetrick), a 14-year-old who won divisions of all three preliminary legs in the series and would have eclipsed $500,000 in earnings with a win, drew inside Do Over Hanover and thus was dispatched as the 3-5 favourite by the public when the championship field was sent on its way.
Although Do Over Hanover is a noted quick leaver, his opening burst from another outer post in this race was exceptional—the first eighth of the mile clocked quicker than :13 seconds. After securing such an easy early lead, Smith throttled his charge through fractions of :27.3, :56.3 and 1:24.3. Montana Pablo A got away fifth and was forced to race outside with cover most of the way.
Finally getting up on almost even terms with Do Over Hanover as the pair swung off the final bend, Montana Pablo A inched away at Do Over Hanover’s precarious advantage, but couldn’t quite manage before the finish was reached in 1:54.2. Jamaican A Bundle (Tyler Lough) was well placed early and was best of the rest in the end.
Do Over Hanover’s resume now includes 32 wins in 116 starts, good for $343,046 in career bounty. He paid $6.40 for his Survivor Series triumph, and couple with Pablo Montana A the Exacta returned $15.
Racing resumes Tuesday and Wednesday at Miami Valley with 2:05 p.m. post times on each day.
(Miami Valley Raceway)