A pair of contentious $5,000 'Sweet 16' races were contested Saturday night at Miami Valley Raceway. When the dust cleared the field was set for next week's 'Elite 8' horse and gelding competition in the month-long tournament for $4,000 claiming pacers.
The top four finishers from this week's eliminations will face off in a $6,000 male championship race next Saturday. Then the 'Final Four' boys will advance to an $8,000 'Battle of the Sexes' championship on March 30 to face the top four female $4,000 claiming pacers who advance through a similar tournament structure on Sunday nights.
The first elimination was captured by Communicator (Pat Berry) in 1:55, edging City Pizza (Jeremy Smith), T Boone (Brad Hanners) and Cole Diddy (Tyler Smith) -- all of whom paced miles under 1:56.
The top four finishers in the second split all recorded official finish times of 1:55.3 as Five Cougars A (Jason Brewer) just nipped Majestic (Jack Dailey), CDs Report (Kayne Kauffman) and Olive Loaf (Jeremy Smith) in the blanket finish.
The only entrant that will carry a claiming price next week will be T Boone, who was claimed in each of the first two elimination weeks. If entered he will carry a $5.000 tag for new owner Bucky Troute.
The Miami Valley Madness In March tournament started with 64 $4,000 claimers and will be reduced to eight males and eight females following a pair of distaff eliminations Sunday night.
(Miami Valley)