A pair of $50,000 Scarlet & Gray Invitationals, featuring Buckeye-bred sophomore filly trotters and pacers, both produced Miami Valley Raceway track records.
Looking For Zelda (Tony Hall) captured the trotting division in 1:55.2, topping Red Storm (Aaron Merriman) by three parts of a length with Sesame (Chris Page) another half-length behind. Hall was content to get away fifth with the winner of $228,675 at two as the daughter of Break The Bank K was making her initial 2018 start off two winning qualifiers. Trainer Norm Parker had Looking For Zelda ready to roll, though, and Hall drove her confidently. After a :28.2 opening panel posted by Non Smoker (Dan Noble), Hall vacated the pylons just prior to the :57.2 half and moved up in first-over position to second by the 1:26.3 third timing station. A stride-for-stride showdown ensued for most of the final quarter until Looking For Zelda edged ahead in the final 50 yards.
“She’s a nice one,” exclaimed a jubilant Parker. “She won all four legs of the Ohio Sires Stakes last year before finishing second in the final. She won Grand Circuit stakes at Harrahs and The Red Mile and raced in the Breeders Crown at two, so we think a lot of her. I’m happy for Mr. Key (owner Robert J. Key).”
The $50,000 filly pace went to Baron Remy (Chris Page) in a 1:52 track record, which is also the fastest mile by a sophomore filly pacer on a five-eighths mile track in North America thus far in 2018. Page executed a quarter-move from third to the lead just past the opening panel and held off all challengers to win by two and three-quarter lengths. Hackett Memorial winner Up Front Flor Ida (Kayne Kauffman) enjoyed a pocket trip throughout, but could do no better than second. Grant Me This (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) rallied in the stretch to grab the show dough.
“Pretty darn nice filly,” Page explained in the winner’s circle. “Ronnie (Burke) always has them ready so I was sure she would put in a big effort and she did.”
Silva, Purnel & Libby, Karr and Weaver Bruscemi are all partners on the daughter of Yankee Cruiser with Burke Racing Stable.
It is expected that both Scarlet & Gray winners will be back at Miami Valley next Friday night (May 4) when the first leg of the 2018 Ohio Sires Stakes program kicks off with the three-year-old fillies in action.
A $25,000 Mares Open was also presented with Rockin Racer (Jared Finn) besting Cas Art Apparel (Josh Sutton) and Juslikeaqueen (Jeremy Smith) in 1:52.3.
The “boys” will be in action Saturday night (April 28) with another pair of $50,000 Scarlet & Gray Invitationals as well as Open I and Open II events for the region’s finest older pacers.
(With files from Miami Valley Raceway)