Not only did father/trainer Jeff Brewer and son/driver Jason Brewer sweep the Open I and Open II mares features on Sunday night at Miami Valley Raceway, but they stamped their stable as the one to beat in the distaff final of the Madness In March tournament for minimum claimers as well.
Holiday Shopper captured her third victory in five local tries in the $10,000 Open I event, as she closed from five and a half lengths off the leader at the head of the stretch to triumph over Addys Way (driven by Jeremy Smith) and Thats My Girl G (Randy Tharps) in 1:55.1. Owned by Drs. Robert and Randall Hutchison, the winning seven-year-old Camluck mare has now amassed 22 lifetime tallies and a bankroll of almost $330,000.
The same connections surprised the Open II field when Upfront Miss Major pulled a 1:56.4 upset over Arties Last Party (Kayne Kauffman) and The Shoe Fits (Chris Page). The five-year-old Art Major mare was sixth and moving at the halfway point and took command in the final strides to reward her backers with a handsome $29.80 mutuel return.
Rock Ann Rolling established herself as the favourite in the 'Madness' elimination tournament by winning the fastest of two $5,000 quarter-final splits in 1:56 over Taylors Artist (Josh Sutton) and May Street Bon (Jim Pantaleano). Jason Brewer owns the six-year-old Rocknroll Hanover lass who now has back-to-back elimination-week wins. The Brewers will have a coupled entry in the $6,000 female final next Sunday, as their Boiler Heidi Ho finished second in the other division to C L Life Road (Pat Berry) with Tips Girl (Tyler Smith) getting the show dough.
Following next week's race, the top four mares will advance to face the top four males from a tandem elimination bracket in an $8,000 'Battle of the Sexes' on March 30.
(Miami Valley Raceway)