Velocity Poprocks, who competed in a $50,000 claiming race just a month ago, completed his notable climb through the ranks with a win in Sunday's $33,000 Open I Pace at Miami Valley Raceway.
The dramatically improved eight-year-old son of Pet Rock equalled his lifetime-best winning time of 1:50.2 for driver Austin Hanners, trainer Steve Carter and relatively new Standardbred owner Richard Mamie.
A runner-up in the weekly feature last week, Velocity Poprocks benefitted by the absence of Let It Ride N, who took a week off after winning five out of the last six Opens. Hanners got away fifth during the first :27.2 panel, was shuffled to sixth at the :55 halfway point and three-quarters beam in 1:22.1. With a closing kick home in :27.3, Velocity Poprocks was able to collar and pass his adversaries while three-wide on the final bend for a half-length victory. Later Dudes, who cut the mile, tried valiantly to hold the lead, but was forced to settle for second. Favoured Rollinlikethunder edged Incredible Man for third. The top three finishers were all timed in 1:50.2.
A $30,000 Open II was won by Double Metal over E Modes Desire and Rose Run Ulysses in 1:51.2. The five-year-old Betting Line-sired gelding won for the fourth time in ten seasonal starts for owner Rick Berks and trainer Kris Hinchcliff. Brett Miller drove the winner.
The Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association conducted its first ever Charity Night with 10 regional charities each drawing a horse in the eighth race with a purse of $21,000. A large group of supporters of the various charities gathered for food, beverage and fun in the clubhouse—all eager to cheer their designated horse on to victory. The first-place charity received a $10,000 donation from the association. The runner-up got $5,000, the show finisher $3,000 and the remaining seven worthwhile local charities each received $2,000.
Austin Hanners took Arbin three-wide around the final turn and rallied down the stretch to claim victory for The Live Like Maya Foundation, netting the charity which supports pediatric cancer families and life-saving pediatric cancer research the $10,000 donation. Threshold with Trace Tetrick finished second for Feed The Hungry Project, while Dragthechipsmyway and Kayne Kauffman finished third for Miracle Horses Healing Hearts at Sarajevo Stables and the Humane Society of Warren County.
The Human Society of Warren County’s original entry was scratched, and they chose Dragthechipsmyway to represent their charity.
The other charities represented were Family Promise of Warren County, Folds of Honor Foundation, GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Center, Safe on Main, Threads of Miami Valley, and Warren County and Veterans Suicide Prevention Coalition.
A total of $33,000 was donated to the charities by the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association.
Racing resumes Monday (April 24) with the first of four $50,000 James K. Hackett Memorial championship races over the next four days. The sophomore Ohio-sired trotting fillies will be in the spotlight on Monday. Post time is 4 p.m. (EDT).
(With files from Miami Valley Raceway and Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)