Heavily-backed Kikimora did not disappoint in the $27,500 championship leg of the Dr. Dan Farwick Memorial trotting series at Miami Valley on Tuesday (March 30).
The four-year-old Chris Beaver-trained daughter of Triumphant Caviar dominated her foes with a 1:54.1 tour of the five-eighths mile oval. Dude Included drafted behind Kikimora as long as he could but could not mount a serious challenge while finishing second ahead of longshot Mr Charmbro, who grabbed the show spot.
Beaver co-owns the winner with her breeder Sandra Burnett. It was the eighth win for Kikimora, who has now banked $328,372. Brett Miller sat in the bike.
The featured $20,000 Open I Trot was captured by Mission Accepted, who nosed out Lane Of Stone and Its A Herbie in a thrilling 1:52.2 battle royale. The winner sat third along the pylons for the first half of the race, then moved up to second on the outside at the three-quarter marker before engaging Lane Of Stone in a side-by-side slugfest the length of the stretch.
It was the 21st win for Mission Accepted, one less than Lane Of Stone’s 22, as the two celebrated Ohio-sired horses added to their impressive earnings credentials. Six-year-old Mission Accepted has now banked $904,497, while five-year-old Lane Of Stone has earned $526,152. Chris Page drove the winner.
Both horses are still owned, at least in part, by their breeders. Knox Services bred Mission Accepted and shares current ownership with Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi. Harry Horowitz bred Lane Of Stone with his late wife Iris and maintains ownership while entrusting Mark Winters will his conditioning.
An $18,000 Open II Trot was won by Jailhouse Sam, who topped Shake It Mary and Black Mamba As in 1:54. Brett Miller was subbing in the sulky for veteran trainer-driver Hugh ‘Sandy’ Beatty, who is currently recovering from a freak non-racing related injury.
Casey Clemens, who also bred the seven-year-old son of Victory Sam, is still the owner of the money maker with $383,257 earned.
(Miami Valley Raceway)