Sizzlen Hot Herbie back to victory lane

Journeyman harness racing gelding Sizzlen Hot Herbie (Here Comes Herbie) snagged his first win since August in a romp over featured conditioned company at The Raceway at the Western Fair District.

Driven by sole proprietor Natasha Day, Sizzlen Hot Herbie resided in the three-hole for much of the first half that went in panels of :29.1 and 1:00.2. The gelding teed off nearing the midway point and attacked first-over, pulling to within a length of leader Run Like Hill (Travis Henry) at three-quarters in 1:29.2.

The battle raged around and the final turn with Sizzlen Hot Herbie whittling down the deficit, and the gelding overwhelmed his opponent as they came down the stretch. He powered clear by three-and-a-half lengths and stopped the clock in 1:59.2 on an impressive victory.

Jayport Hi Class (Greg Dustin) followed the winner’s cover and rolled past Run Like Hill for place.

SIZZLEN HOT HERBIE REPLAY

Sizzlen Hot Herbie has now won a race at every age from two through 10. Day trains, drives, and owns the gelding who has now tallied 33 scores in 186 starts and has earned $285,840.

Also on the card, I Loved Her First (Bettors Delight, Tyler Borth) made it three-for-three on the year and seven wins from her past eight starts. The four-year-old Mike Timpano trainee’s victory mirrored Sizzlen Hot Herbie: the mare raced first up from the half and sprung clear in the stretch to a three-and-a-half-length victory in 2:00. I Loved Her First has won 10 of 15 starts since debuting in January 2023 and has earned $37,460. Wendy Warren Timpano co-owns her with Seaspray Stables.

I LOVED HER FIRST REPLAY

The Raceway at the Western Fair District will see racing next on Friday, Feb. 9 at 5:50 p.m. EST.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink