Driver Brett Miller racked up eight victories on the 14-race card at Miami Valley Raceway on Thursday, March 26, including the $49,315 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace and the $43,835 Fillies and Mares Open II Pace.
Miller's seventh win on the card came in the featured Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace with No Foolin April. He left with the mare and secured the pocket behind Goo Goo Won (Austin Hanners) before quarter-poling his charge to the lead and dictating the rest of the fractions. No Foolin April resisted the first-over Hungry Lizzo (Trevor Smith) around the final turn, and the leader held off a host of challengers in the stretch, winning by a neck in 1:51.3. Foxy Hill (Dave Miller) surged for second, followed by Hungry Lizzo. The top four were separated by a length.
No Foolin April is owned and trained by Adam Short. The five-year-old daughter of Nob Hill High-Princess Baby Ella is now 20-for-60 lifetime. She paid $9.80 to win.
The seventh race, and win number five for Miller, was the sub-featured Fillies and Mares Open II Pace. He looped Beautiful Seaside ($15.60) to the front from second at the quarter, and the Josh Rowe-trained six-year-old commanded the middle splits before hanging on by a nose over the late-rushing Duration (David Miller), snapping that rival's four-race win streak in a 1:50.3 score. Dragon By The Sea (Tyler Smith) was third. The winner, a homebred daughter of Downbytheseaside-Your Beautiful for Matt Rowe, is now 24-for-85 lifetime.
Miller was hot right off the bat, winning the first race with 2-5 shot Abbey D ($2.80), his only winning favourite, by 7-1/4 lengths in 1:53.4. He returned to the winner's circle in the next race, being parked out every step of the way with My Guy Wrapsitup ($25) but getting him home to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.3. In the fourth race, Miller used a first-over move with Massive Desire ($18.20) to wear down the leader, and his charge fended off favourite Lane of Stone in the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.1. The reinsman again used a late first-up move in the sixth race to win by 1-1/2 lengths with Miss Clementine ($7.40), who took a new lifetime mark of 1:54.3.
Miller, following his Open II victory, reached victory lane in the ninth race as he went coast-to-coast again, this time with maiden Naughty Seastar ($13) in 1:55.1 with a three-quarter-length margin. After the aforementioned Open Handicap win, his final victory on the card came the 13th race with E Pass ($18.40), who rallied from seventh at the half and came off cover to win by a neck in 1:55.3. On the night, Miller's winners paid a combined $110.20. In 14 drives, he also had a second and two thirds and missed cheques only twice.
After week 12 at Miami Valley, David Miller is on top of the drivers' standings with 112 wins. Chris Page (105) remains in contention, while Brett Miller's (84) eight wins moved him into third ahead of Luke Hanners (82). Trace Tetrick (59) rounds out the top five.
On the training side, Ron Burke (53) continues to show the way with Virgil Morgan Jr. (41) in second. Heather France (38), Steve Carter (32) and Mike Hitchcock (20) complete the top five.
Racing has been completed for the week at Miami Valley and will return on Sunday with a post time of 4 p.m.
(With files from Miami Valley Raceway)