$535,000 in stakes held at Miami Valley

All eyes in the horse racing world may have been focused on Churchill Downs Saturday afternoon (May 5), but in the harness racing world the main attraction was at Miami Valley Raceway in Ohio where there were $535,000 in stakes events.

The main attraction was the $100,000 second annual Pacey “The Wizard” Mindlin Pace Baby Pace Memorial Invitational. The 10th race feature did have two late scratches of Stockade Seelster and Christchurch from the race.

Unlike all the Ohio Sire Stakes where the favorites won, not the The Wizards race. It belonged to the 9/2 Carbine (Somebeachsomewhere) and driver Austin Hanners. They were able to leave out of the gate from post two due to the two inside scratches, get the front and not look back. He cut fractions of :25.1 and :53.to the half as Artatac A (Dan Noble) came charging first-over with Little Rocket Man (John De Long) getting second-over cover.

In the backstretch, Little Rocket Man was tipped three-wide and cleared by the three-quarters in 1:21.3, but around the final turn and no one could gain on Carbine, who went on to win by one and one-half lengths in 1:49.1. The pocket-sitting Hellabalou (Chris Page) was second with Taurasi and driver Trace Tetrick third.

It was the second straight win and seventh of the year for Carbine. The six-year-old gelding is trained by Virgil Morgan, Jr. for Odds On Racing of Boca Raton, FL and paid $11.40 to win.

CARBINE REPLAY

The first of the three $100,000 Ohio Sire Stakes for three-year-olds took place in the very first race where the trotting filly Jurassic Hattie (Volstead) and driver Brett Miller led from start to finish with a five and three-quarter length triumph in 1:54. Iam Independent (Chris Page) was second with Butter N Syrup (Chris Lems) finished third.

Now undefeated in 2024 with three straight wins, Jurassic Hattie is trained by Eric Nessleroad for owner/breeder Jerry Welsh and paid $2.40 to win.

JURASSIC HATTIE REPLAY

The 2^nd race on the card was the $100,000 OSS for three-year-old pacing fillies and it was almost a major shocker as race favorite Seaside Diva (Downbytheseaside) and driver Chris Page, barely held off Bath Bomb (Tyler Smith) by a nose in 1:51.

Despite being interfered with before the opening quarter by a breaking horse, Seaside Diva and Page then came on and took the lead away from Bath Bomb. Bath Bomb and Smith then sat the pocket trip and just missed beating Seaside Diva. Katies Up (Jeremy Smith) was third.

Seaside Diva is undefeated in three starts this season for trainer Ron Burke. She is co-owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Knox Services and Let It Ride Stable. Seaside Diva paid $2.80 to win.

SEASIDE DIVA REPLAY

The third $100,000 Ohio Sire Stakes three-year-old colt and gelding trot was the 9^th race and saw once again the race favorite, Royal Precedent (Creatine) and driver Trace Tetrick led from start to finish by a neck over Spaaaanzano (Aaron Merriman) in 1:54.1. Smooth Talkin (Tyler Smith) was third.

It was the first win in three starts this year for Royal Precedent and a lifetime mark for the gelding. He is trained by Jodi Schillaci for the Claude Gendreau Stable, who also bred the winner. He paid $3.20 to win.

ROYAL PRECEDENT REPLAY

There were two $65,000 divisions of the Ohio Sire Stakes for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers. The first division was the 3^rd race where the race favorite, Clever Cody (The Panderosa) and driver Aaron Merriman showed their heels to the rest of the field.

Starting from post five, Clever Cody cut fractions of :26.1, :55 and 1:22.1, pulling away from the field to win by three open lengths in 1:50.1. Theheavyweightway (Trevor Smith) was second with Hundred Dollar Man (Montrell Teague) finished third.

CLEVER CODY REPLAY

It was the first start of the year and a lifetime mark for Clever Cody. He is trained by Dr. Ian Moore for the Clever Cody Stable and paid $4.00 to win.

The second $65,000 OSS division was the 8^th race as racing fans saw the race favorites dominate in the Ohio Sire Stakes action as Rose Run Zane (Racing Hill) and driver Austin Hanners took the early lead away from Howaboutayankee (Tyler Smith) at the opening quarter mile and then wired the field by one and one-quarter lengths in 1:50.4.

Pocket sitting Howaboutayankee was second with Racing Rebel (Sam Widger) third.

ROSE RUN ZANE REPLAY

It was a lifetime mark and the fifth straight win for Rose Run Zane. He is trained by Dan Venier for owners John Saunders and Leann Saunders, paying $2.20 to win.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink