Obermeier & Quaid Stable’s Maevey Gravy provided the fireworks on Wednesday’s Independence Day program at Balmoral Park as the three-year-old filly knocked off six other diagonally gaited state-breds in the $12,000 Sorce Ann Stake.
Leaving alertly from post position five for driver Marcus Miller, the daughter of Northern Kid-Grace Elizabeth found a seat in third as Star Of Victory (John Roberts) led the field through leisurely opening splits of :30.4 and 1:01.
With the action beginning to heat up on the far turn, Miller maneuvered his filly to the outside where she picked up live cover from a first over B Fly McQueen (Robert Smolin), who had pulled right alongside of Star Of Victory as they reached the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:31.1.
In the stretch B Fly McQueen quickly swallowed up the pacesetting Star Of Victory, opening up a one and a half length advantage. Unfortunately for the “chalk” players, the 3-5 favourite could not hold off the tenacious bid of Maevey Gravy, who zipped by in the closing yards to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:59.3. B Fly McQueen was forced to settle for the bridesmaid role while Powerful Star (Dale Hiteman) rallied well to be third.
With the win, the Erv Miller-trained miss now sports a record of 2-1-3 in starts this season with earnings of $21,587. Sent off as the second choice in the wagering, Maevey Gravy returned $5.60, $2.40 and $2.10.
(Balmoral Park)