Veteran mare shows up younger competition

LEBANON, OH – Gone Girl (Jeremy Smith), the oldest harness racing mare in the elite 10-horse field at age eight, captured the $30,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace at Miami Valley on Tuesday (March 29).

The daughter of Dragon Again, who has now made 162 lifetime starts, bested Single Girl (Tyler Smith) and longshot Princess Rockette (Chris Page) in 1:53.

While Gone Girl is no stranger to winning—she now has 39 career victories—this win broke a six-week streak of wins in the weekly distaff feature at Miami Valley by either Marloe Hanover or Rose Run Vision.

Smith gunned Gone Girl to the front of the bulky field immediately, seating all adversaries during an opening :27.3 panel. Permitted a comfortable :56.3 clocking without challenges, the prize possession of trainer Mark Gillenwater followed up with a :56.2 back half to rebuff all challengers.

A half dozen of the remaining mares finished less than three lengths behind the winner as the field fanned out down the stretch.

GONE GIRL REPLAY

Earlier in the day, a pair of second leg divisions of the George “Red” Owens Memorial Series determined the nine finalists for next Tuesday’s $22,500 championship. Winners were Twenty (Chris Page, 1:54.3, $4.60) and Rocksette (Josh Sutton, 1:54.4, $18).

Twenty edged out Fear The Smoothie (Dan Noble) and Velocity Lola (Brett Miller). The Well Said filly captured her second ever pari-mutuel victory for the Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, J & T Silva Stable and Knox Services.

Rocksette rushed up the pylons to eke out her triumph over Always B Gigi (Tyler Smith) and Rose Run Galaxy (Page). Michael Johnson trains the Rockin Image filly for owners Kevin Miller, Brian Loman and Chad Wendling.

The Owens Memorial finalists, in order of series earnings, are Always B Gigi, Rocksette, Twenty, Fear The Smoothie, Amy L, Rose Run Galaxy, Catamaran, Rose Run Wylie and Velocity Lola.

Racing resumes Wednesday (March 30) with the usual 4:05 p.m. post time at Miami Valley.

For full race results, click here.

From Miami Valley Raceway