Indian Spirit proved his win in last week’s James K. Hackett elimination was no fluke by capturing the $30,000 championship on Saturday night at Miami Valley Raceway in near identical fashion.
Eased off the gate by driver Kyle Ater and settled into sixth at the quarter-mile station, Indian Spirit was content to move up a spot along the inside during the middle half before swinging wide at the head of the stretch and cruising to a convincing two and three-quarter length triumph in 1:54. Chief Talkalot (Jim Pantaleano) raced gamely on the outside the entire mile to finish second with Gray Camo (Chris Page) garnering the show dough.
Indian Spirit is owned by Gregory Forcum and trained by Dan Ater. His next start will be in the first leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes for sophomore pacing colts at Miami Valley on May 2.
Earlier on the program, Ontario-sired Ardyne Ace (Dan Noble) pulled an upset over heavily favoured Night Pro (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) in the $18,150 Open Pace. The winning nine-year-old’s clocking of 1:50.3 was the third fastest mile in the two-year history of Miami Valley.
Jim Pollock Jr. conditions Ardyne Ace for owners David Ehrenberg and Daniel Fawcett, who saw the son of Aces N Sevens lifetime bounty exceed $400,000 with the victory at odds of 10-1.
Night Pro, who was assigned outside and was parked through a first quarter in :26.4, held for second with longshot Mr Why (Ken Holliday) saving ground throughout to finish third.
(With files from Miami Valley Raceway)