The Tuesday, March 19 matinee at Miami Valley Raceway featured both trotters and pacers in 'Lebanon Legends' late-closing series action.
The Dr. Dan Farwick Memorial Trot, for non-winners of six races or $60,000, featured three divisions of the opening preliminary, as did the first round of the Omar Hiteman Memorial, for non-winners of two or $20,000 male pacers.
The quickest mile in the $15,000 Farwick splits came in the first division when Vatanna narrowly topped Red Rose Swan in 1:55.3 with Showboat third. The five geldings in the seven horse field were no match for the winner and runnerup, who were the only mares in the contest.
Anna Lorentzon owns Vatanna, a five-year-old by Dejarmbro, who has now notched three wins in six tries in 2019. Elliot Deaton sat in the bike.
Air Assault, driven by Dan Noble, captured the second Farwick split in 1:56.1, besting Sesame and Starlight AS. The four-year-old son of Yankee Glide races for the partnership of Charles Kline and trainer Mike Hollenback. The clocking equaled her lifetime best.
Another pair of four-year-old mares showed their heels to the field in the final Farwick division. Missprimetimemel took full advantage of an early miscue by heavily-favoured The Lionking AS to wire the field in 1:56.2. Peggy Sue was a close second with Mr Quaker third.
The winning daughter of Pilgrims Chuckie, trained by driver LeWayne Miller for owners Nathan Yoder and Stephen Stoll, surpassed the $50,000 earnings plateau with the win.
Dealers Table, a three-year-old by American Ideal making just his second start, sped to a 1:52.3 score in the fastest $10,000 Hiteman Memorial division. Injured and unraced at two, the winner made his first money start a winning one in 1:54.4 last week and followed with a dominating effort in his second.
“He’s the real deal,” said driver Josh Sutton as he hung up the lines after beating Smilenmyles and Parklane Knight. Trainer Jeff Cullipher co-owns Dealers Table, a New York bred, with partner Pollack Racing LLC.
The other two victors in the Hiteman heats scored in 1:54 miles. DLs Big Elvis, driven by Brett Miller, headed Jacks Major and Star Of Oz across the finish line.
The three-year-old son of Mister Big earned just $5,000 as a freshman, but has already doubled that amount in his first four starts of 2019. Charlie Stewart trains the winner for Rod Harness and breeder Dave Scott.
Doctor Jimmy, driven by Cam McCown, remained undefeated by winning his division over Skyway Three Ball and Seattle Hanover. Brian Brown trains the winning son of Well Said for the partnership of Country Club Acres, Milton Leeman and Richard Lombardo. The three-year-old colt is now four-for-four to start his promising career.
(Miami Valley Raceway)