Hilary Barry N stamped herself as the favourite in the George 'Red' Owens Memorial series for pacing fillies and mares while winning the quickest of three first-round divisions on Sunday (Feb. 9) at Miami Valley Raceway.
Heavily-favoured Hilary Barry N, a four-year-old New Zealand bred daughter of Bettors Delight, glided over Miami Valley’s damp five-eighths mile oval in 1:56.1 for driver John DeLong to easily defeat Crowntimerockette and Vinecancruise without an anxious moment. Trainer Trent Stohler also owns the winner who looked every bit the part of a 1-9 favourite, paying just $2.10 to win.
Big Bad Mosa captured a split of the Owens Memorial in 1:57.1 over Jazzie Babe and Rockinattheryman. Ronnie Roberts trains the winning sophomore filly by Ohio stallion Big Bad John for owner Watson Stable of Illinois. Trace Tetrick steered the $3.60 winner.
Pray The Rosary was the other winner, besting Lookintomyeyes and Model Number Five in 1:59.1. Driver Luke Ebersole found a seam in deep stretch to gain the nose victory, the third win in five tries for the three-year-old daughter of Art Official. Robert Boggs owns the winner, who kicked back $6.80 to her backers at the betting windows.
The late closer is limited to non-winners of two pari-mutuel races or $20,000 lifetime and attracted 27 nominations.
Racing resumes Monday afternoon (Feb. 10) at Miami Valley when four $6,000 divisions go for the second elimination round of the Survivor Series for $5,000 male claiming pacers. Plus three $10,000 first-round divisions of the Omar Hiteman Memorial series for non-winners of two or $20,000 lifetime colt and gelding pacers will go to gate.
Tuesday’s action at Miami Valley will feature a $24,000 Open Trot, second-round eliminations in the Survivor Series for $5,000 claiming mares, and three second-round splits in the Robert J. Brown Memorial series for non-winners of two or $20,000 lifetime trotters.
(Miami Valley Raceway)