Always B Miki Wins Epic Ewart

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Published: September 10, 2016 10:29 pm EDT

When Always B Miki and Wiggle It Jiggleit lock horns, the race is typically not to be missed. Saturday night's matchup in the $225,000 Jim Ewart Memorial was no exception.

A field of nine lined up for the Ewart at Scioto Downs, with Always B Miki favoured at even money from post six over Wiggle It Jiggleit, the 6/5 second choice from post eight.

When the wings of the gate folded, a calvary charge of pacers vied for early command with Luck Be Withyou (Eric Goodell) fronting the field through a sizzling :25.2 first fraction. Montrell Teague was parked with Wiggle It Jiggleit through that opening quarter, while Brett Miller was able to settle Always B Miki fourth along the rail.

Wiggle It Jiggleit cleared to the lead in front of the grandstand but wasn't able to get much of a breather. As the half flashed up in :53, Always B Miki was at his bridle and the two powerhouses matched strides down the backstretch.

The third quarter was reached in a torrid 1:19 with neither pacer giving way. Always B Miki looked to poke a head in front around the final turn but Wiggle It Jiggleit fought back heading into the turn. In deep stretch, Always B Miki got the best of his archrival and hit the wire three-quarters of a length earlier than his foe with Luck Be Withyou staying for third.

The mile was timed -- over a sloppy track -- in 1:47, matching Always B Miki's lifetime best and his world record from earlier this year at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

"It's tough to keep a horse like that 100 percent peak [form]," said trainer Jimmy Takter after the monstrous mile. "We had a couple of starts that he sored up a little bit on me so I had to back him off, I couldn't train him like I normally did. Last couple of weeks here, I've been able to train him normally. I felt him in the warm up, he felt like he was going to do a good performance.

"And I congratulate Brett for taking the pressure off, he's a high-pressure horse to drive but Brett handled him perfect. I'm very happy for him."

This was the first time Brett Miller had sat behind Always B Miki with regular driver David Miller driving at Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday night.

"I was leaving as much as I could, within reason...a :25.2 first quarter, that's making it...first of all, I'd just like to thank Jimmy and the owners for giving me a shot with this horse. I've never sat behind a horse quite like this. This is one of the most powerful horses I've ever sat behind, and he just went a mile that was unreal.

"Wiggle It Jiggleit, everybody knows what a champion he is...this horse, in the last turn, it almost felt like Wiggle It might have put him away but at the top of the stretch, this horse took back off."

Owned by Bluewood Stable and Christina Takter of New Jersey and Roll The Dice Stable of Delaware, Always B Miki (Always A Virgin - Artstopper) is now 7-4-0 in 12 starts this year, with earnings in excess of $919,000. The win was his 25th lifetime from 47 starts.

Earlier on the card, Goodell guided Homicide Hunter to victory in the $100,000 Chip Noble Memorial Trot. His 1:52.1 winning time also established a new Scioto track record.

Chris Oakes trains Homicide Hunter (Mr Cantab - Evening Prayer) for Crawford Farms Racing of Syracuse, N.Y.

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