Shine N Shimmer was stunning Friday night at Miami Valley Raceway, treating the quick five-eighths mile oval as if someone laid a red carpet around it—just for her.
It was just the second local race for the seven-year-old daughter of American Ideal and produced the second gate-to-wire victory against the best Open class mares competing in southern Ohio.
Driver Chris Page took full advantage of drawing the inside post position by exploding off the wings and forcing all rivals to find a seat during a :27.2 opening panel. With no one pressuring on the outside in the scratch-shortened field, Page managed an unexpected respite during the second quarter when the timer flashed :57.4 at the halfway station. The pace quickened from that point home with All Terror (Kayne Kauffman) launching a first-over bid and Carlina Hanover (Tyler Smith) getting a snug pocket journey. When the 1:26 flashed at the three-quarters, Page called on his winning mare and she responded with a :28.2 last quarter to put the 1:54.2 triumph in the books.
Shine N Shimmer is trained by Jim Ellison for the Dandy Farms and Howard Taylor. She now has 19 career victories and $322,239 in lifetime earnings.
The feature race win was one of four on the night for Page, whose other tallies came with Camphor Hanover (1:56.1), trotter Over And Out (1:58.1) and Rev Me Up (1:54.2).
Racing resumes Saturday night with a powerful 14-race card offering $127,500 in purses.
(With files from Miami Valley)