First Mares Open of the season to Sandy Sue

LEBANON, OH – Sandy Sue (Trace Tetrick) was content to sit third during most of the harness racing mile in the $28,000 Mares Open Pace on Tuesday (Jan. 11) at Miami Valley Raceway.

The seven-year-old daughter of Shark Gesture roared through the stretch to collar Gone Girl (Jeremy Smith) who was second and finally Somebodyslilly (Brandon Bates), who had cut fractions of :28, 57.4 and 1:24.3 before surrendering in the shadow of the wire reached in 1:52.3.

The win was the fifth in a row for Sandy Sue, who is conditioned by Tyler George, although she hadn’t raced in over five weeks. Eleven Star Stable, Cassie George and Bill Boyce are partners on Sandy Sue, who has earned over $100,000 in the past year and is approaching $300,000 in her 28-win career.

A $20,000 high condition distaff pace was won in come-from-behind fashion by Racing Glory (Jeremy Smith), who bested Moneymakehersmile (Tetrick) and Rose Run Advantage (Brett Miller) in 1:53.2.

It was the sixth win in the past two months for the razor-sharp daughter of Racing Hill. The four-year-old is owned by Marjorie Beshetsky and trained by Mike Sweeney.

A pair of $12,500 first leg splits were also contest for distaff $12,500 Claim To Fame hopefuls. Winner of the first division was Atlantic Star (Tony Hall) over Shesrockingwichita (Brady Galliers) and JD’s Queen Lori (Bates).

In the other division, Odds On Algorithm (Trevor Smith) upset Dancing Lisa (Hall) and Always Be Lucy (Mitch Cushing). A total of six mares went home with new owners following claims from the series.

Next week most of the mares will return to chase $15,000 purses. The third week the top nine money winning mares during the first two weeks will return to compete in a $22,500 final.

The 2022 Miami Valley schedule calls for five consecutive 4:05 p.m. late afternoon matinees from Sundays through Thursdays.