Hamsandwich ran his win streak to five on Saturday (March 13), including victories in the final legs of a pair of Miami Valley’s popular Lebanon Legends series. In his latest success, he bested favoured Louie Louie to capture the championship of the George Williams Memorial Series in 1:52.3.
Driver Trace Tetrick negotiated a pocket trip behind Louie Louie for the roan four-year-old son of Tellitlikeitis, then coasted to victory in the lane. Modern Rock finished best of the rest in the lucrative final.
Adam Short owns and trains Hamsandwich, who also was crowned champion of the earlier Omar Hiteman Memorial series. The Hiteman Memorial featured horses that were non-winners of two races or $20,000 lifetime, while the Williams Memorial contestants were all non-winners of four races or $40,000 at the nomination deadline. Hamsandwich is now scheduled to advance to a third ‘Legends’ series—the Tom Tharps Memorial, for non-winners of six races or $60,000. That series begins next Saturday (March 20).
A $22,000 Open Handicap Pace produced another winner who is getting used to a post-race photo opportunity with Miami Valley photographer Brad Conrad. GD Western Joe won the weekly feature for the fourth time in eight tries since the calendar turned to 2021.
In this outing, he beat stablemate The First Step and Tivo Hanover to increase his seasonal earnings at Miami Valley to $59,500 and his career bankroll to $622,800. The six-year-old son of Real Desire—driven by Chris Page—is trained by Ron Burke and is owned by Burke Racing, Hen-Shaut Stable, J & T Silva-Purnel & Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi.
Racing resumes at Miami Valley on Sunday (March 14) with a 14-race program beginning at 2:05 p.m. (EDT).
(Miami Valley Raceway)