Ice Scraper paced the fastest mile in the two-year history of Miami Valley Raceway on Saturday night (April 4) capturing the $18,150 Open Pace in 1:50.1.
Driver Ken Holliday, who returned to the sulky in January after a prolonged absence, set sail early and lead the talented field through a brisk opening quarter in :26. Despite no impending pressure, Holliday continued a brisk pace the second quarter, reached in :54.1. With a second tier headed by Ardyne Ace (Randy Tharps) forming down the backstretch, Ice Scraper found another gear to maintain the lead at the 1:21.3 third quarter station. When the contenders fanned out four-wide for the stretch duel, Ice Scraper dug down deep and just held off fast-closing A Sweet Ride (Kayne Kauffman) in a very tight photo. Js Six Pak Attack (Jeremy Smith) garnered the show dough with Ardyne Ace and Atta Boy Dan (Chris Page) picking up the final two cheques.
James Behrendt owns Ice Scraper, a six-year-old gelded son of Yankee Skyscraper who surpassed the $300,000 career earnings plateau with the victory. It was the 25th win in his career and gave Ice Scraper three wins and three place finishes in eight 2015 starts. Sent off at 5-2 odds, Ice Scraper paid $7.40 to win, with the exacta kicking back a handsome $85.80.
A pair of final preliminary heats were contested in the Tom Tharps Memorial Series for non-winners of six races or $50,000 lifetime male pacers. First Of Itskind (Jeff Nisonger) captured the first $10,000 division in 1:52, topping Lord Of Misrule (Chris Page) and PQ Three (Jeremy Smith). It was the second consecutive win for the Western Terror four-year-old, owned by A Piece Of The Action Stable, and stamped him as the probable favourite for the $20,000 final next Saturday night.
Hotunderthecollar (Chris Page) was the upset winner in the second split, beating Crusoe Hanover (Jeff Nisonger) and OK Ferrari (Greg Grismore) in 1:52.3. Trainer Herman Hagerman co-owns the five-year-old son of Jeremys Jet with Pine Stone Farm. It was the first seasonal win in 11 tries for Hotunderthecollar and the eighth triumph of his life.
Miami Valley will present an 11-race card on Easter Sunday with a 3 p.m. post time. The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales will circle the lightning fast five-eighths mile oval several times between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. prior to the races.
(Miami Valley Raceway)