Our Majordan A, who took a record of 1:47.3 at The Meadowlands in 2020, made an impressive 2021 debut at Miami Valley Raceway on Saturday (March 20).
The nine-year-old gelded and Australian-bred son of Art Major, following three qualifying tighteners for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr., topped a stellar field of Open pacers as eight of 10 in the field owned sub-1:50 records.
Driver Brett Miller was confident that, with three qualifiers under his girth, the 35-time winner was fit enough to play catch-me-if-you-can in the featured $22,500 event. Despite an assigned outside post position, Miller set sail from the moment the gate opened, but needed the entire :26.4 first quarter before finally securing the front. The race was likely won with a :29.2 second quarter breather before stablemate Turbo Hill took up chase and moved up to second at the 1:24 third timing station.
With Turbo Hill fading in the stretch, a slew of other challengers fanned down the lane in a futile effort to catch the leader. My Hero Ron and Jet Rock got perilously close to the winner at the wire. Unfortunately, Jet Rock made a late break in stride and was placed fifth as GD Western Joe and General Dolan were lapped on to the third-place finisher at the finish line.
Our Majordan A is owned by the Enviro Stable, Ned Hodkinson and Milton Leeman. He paid $5.00 to win.
Trainer Virgil Morgan Jr., who was recently inducted into the Ohio Harness Racing Hall Of Fame, harnessed a total of four winners on the Saturday card. His other winners were Howmacsblackjack (Noble, 1:52.3, $6.40), Rock N Jo Z (Trace Tetrick, 1:51.4, $4.60) and The Great Buzz (Tetrick, 1:52, $6.80).
Two first-leg divisions of the Tom Tharps Memorial Series were also contested. The winners were Louie Louie, in 1:52.1 over Thrasher and third-place dead-heaters No Quarter and WF Eeyore; and Velocity Poprocks, topping Shvaiko and Lous A Pansy in the second split.
Drivers Dan Noble and Trace Tetrick each scored hat tricks on Saturday, while Chris Page and Josh Sutton managed driving doubles. Noble joined Tetrick during the night as the only $1 million purse winners in North America thus far in 2021.
Racing will resume at Miami Valley on Sunday afternoon (March 21) with a 2:05 p.m. (EDT) post time.
(Miami Valley Raceway)