The Jeff Brewer Stable, which produced the winner of the initial Survivor Series at Miami Valley Raceway in 2014, dominated first leg action of the 2015 version by capturing three of the four elimination heats on Tuesday (March 17) night.
The field of 32 entrants was reduced to 21 with the top five finishers in each of the four elimination races advancing to second elimination round action on March 25. The 21st advancee resulted when the photo finish camera couldn’t separate two horses who arrived at the finish line together for fifth place in the first heat.
All three of the “Brew Crew” winners were driven by trainer Jeff’s son Jason. B L Wattaride was the first to advance, capturing the first elim at 8-1 odds in 1:56.4. Rocking Meadows Stable owns the six-year-old Kilowatt gelding who notched his tenth lifetime victory. Jolts Virtue (Randy Tharps) finished second with R M Imp (Tyler Smith) and E R Prince Charmin (Jeremy Smith) advancing in addition to the fifth place deadheaters -- Dusty Dunes (Ken Holliday) and Settlement Request (Kayne Kauffman).
Martydaonemanparty (Jeremy Smith) was the quickest of the four winners with a 1:53.4 lifetime best score for owner Tom Luther and trainer Rob Zink in the second split. The six-year-old son of Modern Art, sent off at 5-2 odds, won for the 16th time. Others to move on to second round action, in order of finish, were Gypsy Colors (Josh Sutton), Winbak Jake (Tyler Smith), Bettordays R Cumin (Dan Noble) and Livelikeurdying (Kayne Kauffman).
The father-son Brewer team returned to the winner’s circle in the third elimination with Mias Bold Maneuver, a 1:54.2 winner at 9-2 odds. The nine-year-old Jate Lobell gelding topped City Pizza (Tyler Smith), Indians Rocket (Jeremy Smith), Gem Heist (Brady Galliers) and Southbound (Dan Noble). It was the 22nd career victory for the winner who is owned by driver Jason Brewer.
Hay Goodlooking, a nine-year-old son of Art Major, notched a 1:56 triumph in the final elimination, besting K Rs Cruiser (Dan Noble), Western Jolt (Kayne Kauffman), Aka The Situation (Tyler Smith) and Big Bear Bow (Jeff Nisonger) as the even money favourite. Rocking Meadow Stable and Jason Brewer are partners on Hay Goodlooking, who will enter the second elimination round as the richest and most experienced in the group. With 212 starts under his belt, he sports 42 career wins and $542,106 in lifetime bounty.
The Survivor Series spotlights horses that made their last pre-series start for a base claiming price of $5,000 or less. The top five from each second round elimination next week will return April 1 for a $10,000 championship race.
(Miami Valley)