The Bill Dailey Memorial Medley, featuring odd distance races, got underway on Saturday (Feb. 6) at Miami Valley in two divisions. Although the track was listed as ‘good’ and was damp due to partial thawing, both divisions were clocked in 1:09.1 and were captured by the betting favourites.
Crimson And Chrome closed well in the homestretch to pass Shane Adam and Goldinthebadlands. Leading driver Trace Tetrick was in the sulky driving for his brother Tim, who owns Crimson And Chrome. Trace’s 63 wins at Miami Valley since the meet commenced on Jan. 3 ranks second in the country behind only Aaron Merriman. Tim, who races in the East, is currently sixth on the U.S. leading-drivers list as he rapidly approaches the coveted 12,000 victories plateau.
It was the 15th win for the five-year-old by Sweet Lou from just 48 trips to the gate.
Shagnwiththedragon won the other split by holding off longshot Snowballs Romeo and Prince Bayard. Tessa Perrin owns the seven-year-old son of Dragon Again and entrusts the training to her husband J. D. The winner, driven by Dan Noble, now sports 24 wins from 115 starts.
GD Western Joe visited the winner’s circle for the fifth time in his last seven starts in the $20,000 Open I. He now has a string of eight straight races with first- or second-place finishes in Open competition. The Burke Brigade stable stalwart topped My Hero Ron and Tivo Hanover in 1:53.2 for his 28th victory in his 100th start. The son of Real Desire, with a 1:49.3 best at Miami Valley in 2020, passed the $600,000 earnings benchmark with the win while in rein to Chris Page.
An $18,000 Open II was also carded and was won by Loutenant and driver Tyler Smith in a mild 10-1 upset in 1:52.1. Favoured Voracity was runner-up with Never Say Never N finishing third.
Chief Mate, a recent $225,000 purchase at the Meadowlands January auction by Black Magic Racing LLC of Ohio, exploded in the stretch to capture a top-condition pace in 1:52 for trainer Todd Luther.
Business has been brisk in the first 25 days of the 2021 meet, with an average daily handle of $540,179, which represents a 35 percent increase over previous year levels.
Racing resumes on Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 7) with an early 12:05 p.m. (EST) post time.
(Miami Valley Raceway)