Rick Wink powered to the top and produced a 1:50 score in the $50,000 Horses and Geldings Open Handicap Pace on Sunday, April 12 at Miami Valley Raceway for his second win in a row.
Starting from post five, 9-5 favourite Rick Wink floated off the wings as Alta Revelry N (Trevor Smith) left hard to his inside and quickly took command. Rick Wink (Luke Hanners) waited for the dust to settle before pressing on to take the lead at the opening quarter in :26.3. The field settled in single file as they rolled past the grandstand for the first time, heading to the half. Rick Wink continued to show the way to the midway point in :55.2 with Alta Revelry N sitting second, Grantmeawish (Trace Tetrick) third and a first-over Joelsyy Hanover (Sam Widger) quickly approaching.
The pace quickened to three-quarters as Hanners gave Rick Wink the green light, and the four-year-old stallion responded with a :27 third quarter, reaching that station in 1:22. Rick Wink edged away from Alta Revelry N by two lengths on the final turn, and Joelsyy Hanover started to retreat from his long overland journey, while Buzzsaw Russ moved three-wide around him. Into the stretch, Rick Wink's lead began to shrink as Alta Revelry N closed back in, but it was to no avail as Rink Wink held strong to the wire to win by three-quarters of a length. Alta Revelry N was second and Grantmeawish held onto third.
The win was Rick Wink's second in a row and his 15th lifetime score in 29 starts. The son of Bit Of A Legend N-Mcgrin N Mcbare It has now earned $951,311. He is trained by Ron Burke and owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, RAS Racing LLC, Knox Services Inc. and J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby. The win price was $5.60.
Drivers Brett Miller and Chris Page each had a hat trick on the 14-race card. Four different trainers — Steve Carter, Mike Hitchcock, Ron Burke and Brian Tatham had two wins apiece.
Racing at Miami Valley will resume on Monday with a post time of 4 p.m.
(Miami Valley Raceway)