Second choice Vel Cinderella took the top from a wide draw and held firm to the finish for a 1:52.4 victory in the featured $22,222 conditioned pace on Tuesday, April 7 at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel.
Vel Cinderella pushed to the point out of post eight for Marcus Miller, reaching the top and pocketing Strangerinthenight (Atlee Bender) past the :27.2 first quarter. The tempo slowed as Vel Cinderella settled on the lead, prompting even-money favourite Wild Bill Wyatt (Brandon Bates) to venture off the pegs from seventh and push uncovered towards the pacesetter on the way to a :57.3 half.
Wild Bill Wyatt drew to equal terms briefly with Vel Cinderella but started to tire on the rim after three-quarters in 1:25.3. Vel Cinderella spun for home under a firm hold from Miller and reached the finish to score by three-quarters of a length. Flossy Hill (Wyatt Avenatti), off at 26-1, rallied from second-over for place while Strangerinthenight settled for third.
Erv Miller trains Vel Cinderella, a four-year-old daughter of Keystone Velocity-The Filly Princess, for owner Final Turn. Vel Cinderella took her second win from three starts this season and her ninth from 27 starts in her career, increasing her earnings to $248,716. She paid $5.90 to win.
Live racing at Oak Grove resumes on Monday, April 13. The card, starting at 1:10 p.m., features a carryover into the Late Pick 5 sequence, covering the last five races on the card, worth $1,122.61.
(Oak Grove)