Jet Hill became the third of four James K. Hackett Memorial champions to be crowned on Wednesday (April 26) at Miami Valley Raceway, collecting the winner's share of the $50,000 purse money.
Following Rose Run Yanae’s win in the trotting filly division on Monday and McSeaside’s triumph in the filly pace split on Tuesday, Jet Hill became the trotting colts champion with a 1:54.3 victory over Bidenurtime (Sandy Beatty) and John Dutton (Chris Page). Some of the best Ohio-sired pacing colts will be featured in the Hackett finale on Thursday.
Kurt Sugg had the sulky assignment behind Jet Hill, who was making his initial 2023 start after a successful freshman year in which he earned $153,125 for the Serenity Racing Stable of Fredericksburg, Ohio and trainer Edward Miller. Great Career (Josh Sutton) was quickest off the starting car to get a brief lead, but favoured Jet Hill retook before the :28.3 first quarter was reached. The son of What The Hill was in command the rest of the way, clocking fractions of :58.1 and 1:26.4 and stopping the final timer in 1:54.3—the winner’s personal best.
Bidenurtime, as is his custom, raced conservatively early on and came flying at the end. John Dutton was also near the rear until the final quarter, finishing well to be third.
Last year, Jet Hill won two legs of the Ohio Sires Stakes series for two-year-olds and finished second in the final. The 2022 winner, Rumble Strips, isn’t expected to make his first start until Leg 1 of this year’s Sires Stakes at Miami Valley on closing day, Saturday, May 6, which has an early post time (noon) in deference to the Kentucky Derby later in the day.
(Miami Valley Raceway)