Taking command early, Da Little Beast downed his competition despite broken equipment to win in the $5,793 second preliminary of the Golden Boy Stakes on Saturday (Aug. 15) at the Miami Fair.
By the quarter in :31.1, Da Little Beast held firm on the lead with Munchie Chris attempting to challenge from first over through middle fractions of 1:03.1 and 1:35. However he and the rest of the field gave futile pursuit to Da Little Beast in the stretch as the three-year-old In The Irons gelding strode to a six-length score in 2:09.1. Stablemate Two Shoes took second with Getitdonebud third.
A homebred for trainer Arthur Rey, Da Little Beast won his fourth race from six starts, earning $9,387. Dean Rey drove the $2.60 winner.
The Reys returned to take the $5,918 second preliminary of the Silk Lace later, this time with owner-trainer Lorraine Rey sending Miso Classy to a 2:08.3 victory.
Baylor Out Babe led to the quarter in :32.1 but yielded for the pocket when 1-5 favourite Follow Your Nose circled for the lead. Miso Classy sat third passing a 1:05.2 half but caught cover from Runaway Heiress moving up the backstretch.
Runaway Heiress advanced to pressure Follow Your Nose by three-quarters in 1:37.1 but began to lose ground into the final turn, forcing Miso Classy three wide. Follow Your Nose kicked to a two-length lead into the stretch but started to tire as Miso Classy hit her best stride, lunging for the lead late to win 2:08.3 by a neck. Runaway Heiress finished nine lengths behind in third.
Driven by breeder Dean Rey, Miso Classy won her first race from five starts, earning $7,897. The three-year-old filly by In The Irons paid $10.80 to win.
In the $2,450 Horses & Geldings Open Pace, Tito Santanna strolled to a 2:02.4 victory to give trainer Trevor Williams one of his three wins on the card. The odds-on favourite sat second to a :29.3 first quarter before moving for the top heading to a 1:02.1 half. Despite first-over pressure from Senga Savannah, Tito Santanna continued to lead by three-quarters in 1:33.1 and held firm through the stretch in progress to a one-and-a-half length win over Saskabush Steve and Senga Savannah, both of whom finished second in a dead-heat.
A seven-year-old gelding by Santanna Blue Chip, Tito Santanna won his fourth race from 12 starts this season and his 19th from 89 overall, earning $107,107. Michel Rey drove the $3.90 winner.
Williams went to then win in the following two races. He sent Gray Zee ($2.70) to a 2:01.1 victory in a $1,900 conditioned pace and won the nightcap with Outlaw Kismet ($18.50).
Sprinttothefinish sped around the track and turned away a late challenge from Tami Blue to take the $2,350 Fillies & Mares Open Pace in 2:06.3. The four-year-old Armbro Baylor mare pushed for the lead from the pylon post and took the field through a clip of :31.1, 1:03.1 and 1:33.4. Tami Blue tipped first over past the half and made slight gains towards the leader through the mile, eventually ranging alongside the pacesetter spinning into the stretch. However Sprinttothefinish fought back to the inside and edged to a half-length win over Tami Blue with 2-5 favourite Somewhere Ideal third.
Owned, trained and driven by Cory Manning, Sprinttothefinish won her second race from six starts this season and her fifth from 13 overall, earning $9,131. She paid $11.50 to win.
Before the card, Millies Million won the $4,120 Kindergarten Stake in 2:16.3. The two-year-old Armbro Baylor filly owned and trained by Richard Bey led Moonshine N Melody through fractions of :36.2, 1:10.1 and 1:43.1 in progress to a one-length victory. Michel Rey drove the winner.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Miami.
To view the results for Saturday's non-wagering event, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Miami (Special).