Driver Trace Tetrick recorded his 7,000th career victory on Monday, April 10 at Miami Valley Raceway. The milestone win came in the 12th race behind Universal, Tetrick’s third winner on the program.
Tetrick got Universal away third in a quick :26.4 opening panel. He then launched a long first-over attack through middle fractions of :56 and 1:23.1 before pulling away to a two-length win in 1:51.1 as the mild 5-2 favourite.
Owner Adam Short trains the four-year-old son of the prolific Ohio sire Downbytheseaside.
Tetrick is the perennial dash champion at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, but spends January through early May at Miami Valley, where he currently has a comfortable lead in the local dash derby. It would be Tetrick's second Miami Valley title if he holds on to win it over Brett Miller and Dan Noble, who are chasing him for the 2023 crown.
Driven by Noble, Let It Ride N won his fourth straight Open Handicap, taking Monday's $30,000 feature. With his 1:48.4 mile, the New Zealand-bred 10-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven became the fastest horse in the 10-year history of Miami Valley.
Assigned post nine, Noble dropped into the three-hole during the :26.4 first quarter following Later Dudes (Chris Page) and Incredible Man (Jeremy Smith). Just after the halfway point was reached in :54.1, Noble launched a first-over attack with Let It Ride N that allowed him to reach Later Dudes on even terms in 1:21 with a quarter mile still to go. With a final :27.4 stanza, Let It Ride N got by Later Dudes. Incredible Man benefitted from his pocket ride throughout to also nudge past the pacesetter.
Michael Hitchcock trains the razor sharp Let It Ride N, who has won half of his dozen seasonal starts and banked $115,210 at Miami Valley already in 2023. William Hartt and the Enzed Racing Stable own the incredible gelding who won 13 times and earned $256,576 last year as well.
The new track record shaved one-fifth of a second off the old standard first set by Nuclear Dragon in 2018 and equalled by both Saulsbrook Genesis and Let It Ride N earlier this season.
The $25,000 championship leg of the Omar Hiteman Memorial late closer for non-winners of two male pacers was co-featured on the Monday card. One of Tetrick's winners, Low Rider, pulled a mild upset over longshot EA Buttermilk Bill (Tony Hall) and favoured Chronicle (Austin Hanners) in 1:50.3. A furious stretch long rally netted the three-year-old son of Downbytheseaside the 1-3/4 length victory for owners James Stambaugh, Alan Keith and Milton Leeman. Tim Lane conditions Low Rider, who was winning for the third time in 11 lifetime starts.
(With files from USTA & Miami Valley Raceway)