Although there were only three female trotters mixed with a half dozen male counterparts in the $25,000 final of the Ray Paver Sr. Memorial Series on Wednesday (March 22) at Miami Valley Raceway, two of those mares showed their heels to the field and swept the winning exacta spots.
All the entrants fit non-winners of four pari-mutuel races of $40,000 at the series commencement.
Whats Up Cupcake (Dan Noble) lived up to her odds-on favouritism, winning in 1:56.1 over Hill Of A Diamond (Brett Miller). Ferretti (Tony Hall) was best of the boys finishing 3-1/2 lengths back in third.
Noble, whose charge drew the rail, relinquished the lead to Vel Jail Bondsman (Cam McCown) and Ferretti as the field wheeled past the quarter in :28. Shortly thereafter, Whats Up Cupcake was sent to the front. On the lead the rest of the way, the winner widened her lead to more than three lengths at the wire.
Zach Mogan trains Whats Up Cupcake for the Rushcreek Stable of Rushsylvania, Ohio. It was the fifth lifetime win for the four-year-old daughter of Uncle Peter and increased her bankroll to $115,578.
The $30,000 Open Trot had a repeat winner for the first time in six weeks as The Mighty Hill (Trevor Smith) made it two in a row in a convincing 1:53.3 triumph over Fawn De Touch (Tony Hall) and Sweet Mr Pinetucky (Trace Tetrick). Jeffrey Smith trains the four-year-old What The Hill gelding for Bet The House.
(With files from Miami Valley Raceway)