Scares Me and Tells Super Star each took a split of the $30,137 conditioned claiming class at Miami Valley on Monday (March 23) night, albeit with very different methods and backing.
In the earlier race, Scares Me, the heavy 1-2 favourite, fired off the wings and quickly took command to lead the field past an opening quarter in :28.1. Facing no pressure until the backside, Scares Me led them through a half in :56.1, a well rated second quarter. As Scares Me pointed towards three quarters, a first over Stars Over Sydney began to close in. Stars Over Sydney shortened the distance between them to within a half length near the three quarters in 1:24.2, but from there on out it was nothing but Scares Me who put the fear into the field, opening up and drawing away to win by six lengths in 1:52.1. Stars Over Sydney fought gamely to hold for second from a late moving Odds On Mad Hatter.
The victory was the fourth win on the year in nine starts for Scares Me, winning every other start since Jan. 27 for leading trainer Ron Burke. In order to repeat next week, he'll have to do it from a new barn as he was claimed tonight by Steve Carter.
Different tactics were used by the second featured conditioned claiming race winner Tells Super Star. Sent off by the betting public at 53-1, Tells Super Star was ducked off the wings from post three and settled in eighth. A battle ensued up front with horses two-, three- and four-wide at different points going to the quarter. As the field went past the opening quarter in :27.3, Dont Tell Rosa finally cleared but was under immediate pressure from an outer flow that never saw the pylons, led by Rockinpoppin. As the duo battled nose-to-nose to a half in :55, heavy 1-9 favourite Whatchagonnado was trapped in the pocket while Tells Super Star was just moving into the outer flow, fourth over.
As the field neared three quarters in 1:23.4, Dont Tell Rosa began paying for the early speed dual and called it a day, taking with him race favorite Whatchagonnado. Rockinpoppin cleared for the lead in the final turn but was also under immediate pressure from Sinatra Hanover who had gone three wide around a second over Checkers Legacy, dragging Tells Super Star along with him. At the top of the stretch, Rockinpoppin had stepped away by two lengths, but Tells Super Star ws flying on the outside and got up to win by three quarters of a length in 1:52.4. Rockinpoppin held for second while Checkers Legacy was third.
Tells Super Star made his 2026 Miami Valley debut a winning one and the triumph was his first win of the year and his seventh lifetime. He was perfectly placed by Trevor Smith for trainer Gerald Miller.
David Miller and Tyler Smith led all drivers with a triple each, while every other winning driver on the card ended with a double.
Miami Valley resumes racing on Tuesday (March 24) at 4 p.m.
(Miami Valley)