Flight Of Fritz used a ground-saving trip and a furious stretch rally to upset at 14-1 in the $30,137 conditioned claiming feature, for horses in for a base tag of $54,795, on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at Miami Valley Raceway.
Starting from post two, Flight Of Fritz was taken back by driver Brett Miller and settled in fifth along the rail as Unhinged (Austin Hanners) led the field to the quarter in :28. The outer flow developed as Unhinged went to the half in :58.1, but Flight Of Fritz remained on the cones and was shuffled to seventh on the way to three-quarters in 1:26.1. Around the final turn and into the stretch, Flight Of Fritz moved five-wide and began his chase with a host of others, and he stormed home to nose out Unhinged at the wire and score in 1:56.3. First Class Rule rounded out the triactor in a five-across finish.
Flight Of Fritz moved to Ohio and the Mike Hitchcock barn following his New Year's Eve start and is now three-for-seven this season. The four-year-old son of Pilot Discretion-Little Miss Herbie, owned by Triple D Stables Inc. and Mike Rekoon, has won 10 of 50 career starts. He returned $30.20 to win.
Driver Brett Miller had a grand slam on the 14-race card while Chris Page and Austin Hanners each recorded doubles.
Racing resumes at Miami Valley on Wednesday with a 4 p.m. first post.
(Miami Valley Raceway)