It took 1:51.4 for Pompano Park's $14,200 Open Pace for mares to be completed and about the same time for the judges to determine that Ourlittlemiracle and Vicious Circle finished in a dead-heat for the top honours.
In a stirring, classic finish, the two brave mares hit the wire together with Ourlittlemiracle, with David Miller in the bike, desperately fighting to protect a precarious lead, and Vicious Circle, driven by Rick Plano, surging from last at the stretch call, desperately lunging to the line in search of glory this night.
Both gallant mares had to share the glory in the winner's circle as Ourlittlemiracle, after a brave quarter move to the top resulting in a sapping :55 opening half, had just enough left to survive a :27.4 finale by Vicious Circle for the draw in a lifetime best performance.
LA Always Amartini (Joe Chindano Jr.) was third, less than a length away while early leader Tuapeka Jessie was fourth. Roll With Angel was fifth in this classy sextet with the entire field two lengths apart at the wire.
The action began at the start as Ourlittlemiracle, Tuapeka Jessie and LA Always Amartini all went searching for the early lead with the latter two noses apart at the opener in a hot :26.3. That's when Ourlittlemiracle, third after the early skirmish, left her cozy spot and surfed to the front three-eighths in. With Roll With Angel and The Stunning Nun N next, Vicious Circle found herself at the back of the pack halfway through but beginning to gnaw away and still fifth past the third station in 1:23.1.
Fanning widest of all turning for home, Vicious Circle was still three lengths back in the the tightly bunch field but her vicious rally late earned the "heater."
"This wasn't an easy mile for her [Ourlittlemiracle] and it shows just how important a fifth of a second can be in racing," said David Miller after the eventful mile. "I think there was another race early where she went a half in :55 and got nosed at the wire. So, all things considered, she raced great and I am very happy with the dead-heat!"
"I knew it was close and I was hoping I got there but, as we were coming back around, I thought, 'Ya know, maybe I would be satisfied with a dead-heat,'" added Plano. "Both mares deserved to be in the winner's circle, that's for sure."
For Ourlittlemiracle, a four-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight trained by Devan Miller for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi, the win was her third of the year after a near miss last week to Vicious Circle and sent her 2022 earnings to $31,317 and lifetime bankroll to $155,136.
Vicious Circle, a five-year-old daughter of Manhardt, earned her fourth win of the semester in 11 starts to vault her earnings to $25,829. The win was her 28th lifetime and she now sports $183,948 career-wise. She's owned by Rick and Geoff Howles along with Souren Hovsepian.
Ourlittlemiracle, off at 9-2 on the board, returned $4.80 in sharing the win pool while Vicious Circle, off at 9-5, returned $3.20.
The $12,600 Open II Pace for the ladies went to Powered By Mach, craftily handled by trainer Joe Chindano Jr.
The five-year-old daughter of Mach Three, away alertly off the wings before yielding early, made a second move after the :26.3 opening panel and led the rest of the way through fractions of :55.1 and 1:23 before a :28.4 finale left her 2-3/4 lengths better than Crisp Mane (Miller), with Protect Blue Chip (Wally Hennessey) next. Rigginswind was an evenly rated fourth while Donegalartchokin N picked up the nickel after closing fastest of all.
Powered By Mach earned her third win of the year in 11 starts, sending her earnings to $23,339 for the young season. She's banked $133,532 lifetime and returned $7.80 as the third choice in the field of six.
Racing continues on Sunday night with the final round of the World Amateur Cup featuring the top amateur drivers in their quest to represent the USA in Italy in September.
Also, the Pick-4 will have a $15,000 guaranteed pool bolstered by an industry low 12 per cent takeout. The Super High-5 finale now boasts a ballooning carryover of $91,514.
Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)