Ron Burke trainee Spy Coast sustained a first-over grind with fervor as the 1-5 chalk and powered home to a 1:57.1 victory in the $24,286 featured conditioned/optional claiming trot at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Tuesday, March 25.
Driver Trace Tetrick landed in fourth with Spy Coast early while 43-1 shot Susies Sister (Jafari Frazier) fired for the front alongside Bee Our Honey (Brandon Bates). Bates circled Bee Our Honey to the lead after a :28 first quarter while Tetrick waited and then steadily angled Spy Coast off the pegs moving for the second turn.
Looming toward the leader to a :58 half, Spy Coast continued pushing up the backside but Bee Our Honey held firm to the pylons and parked the favourite to three-quarters. Spy Coast lost ground past three-quarters in 1:27.3 and through the final turn but accelerated upon straightening for home with minimal encouragement from Tetrick. She kicked past Bee Our Honey in the lane and pulled clear to a 1-3/4-length victory while Country Girl Charm (Marvin Luna) rallied for third and Susies Sister settled for fourth.
A four-year-old mare by Walner, Spy Coast remains unbeaten from two starts this season and has now won eight times from 29 tries, good for $309,641 in earnings. She competes for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Philip Collura and Elizabeth Jones. Spy Coast returned $2.32 to win.
Racing continues at Oak Grove on Monday, March 31. First-race post time at Oak Grove is 1:45 p.m. (CDT).
(With files from Oak Grove Racing)