Exactly one week after suffering serious bruises and abrasions as the result of a frightening racing accident at Miami Valley Raceway, driver Jeremy Smith returned to action with a scintillating four-win performance during Tuesday’s matinee card.
The grand slam matched honours on the day with leading driver Josh Sutton, who also scored four victories.
Smith, currently ranked third in the dash standings, got his initial visit to the winner’s circle with Ida Sofia for trainer Jeff Nisonger. The 1:56 mile produced a $25.60 win mutuel for Jeremy’s $2 win backers. Whosbest, trained by Deborah Swartz, gave Smith his second winner, this one in 1:57.3, returning $30.20.
Trainer Jim Arledge, Jr. entrusted the lines behind Mars Man to Smith and was rewarded with a 1:54.4 triumph and a $7 payoff for his mutuel supporters. Ahdoughnolum, a recent addition to the Rob Zink Stable, completed Jeremy’s four-bagger producing a $5.80 return on investment.
Sutton, the runaway leader in the local driver standings, scored a consecutive hat trick in races two through four on the program. Josh’s winners were Little Mans Magic (1:56.1, $7.60) for trainer Virgil Morgan, Jr., Circus Annie (1:56.3, $7.00) for trainer Jack Dailey, and Legal Brief (1:56.3, $5.00) for conditioner Phil Belanger. Lucky Day (1:54.1, $4.20) put the exclamation point on Sutton’s exceptional day when he notched his first win of the season for trainer Barry Langley.
(Miami Valley Raceway)