Favorites prevail in a trio of trots

LEBANON, OH – Favorites prevailed in a trio of preliminary Dr. Dan Farwick Memorial Series trots at Miami Valley on Tuesday (March 26) afternoon, but the same couldn't be said about the Omar Hiteman Memorial Series paces as only one public choice prevailed.

Quickest win in the Farwicks went to Red Rose Swan (LeWayne Miller driver-trainer), who topped The Lionking AS (Trace Tetrick) and Cruzen Cassi (Tyler Smith) in 1:55. The winning 4-year-old daughter of Swan For All lowered her lifetime best for owners Brian Dean and Jeremy Eash in the process.

The other two Farwick splits, designed for non-winners of six races or $60,000, were won by Broadway Mojo (Chris Page) and Sesame (Brett Miller), both clocked in 1:56.3. Broadway Mojo, a 4-year-old by Broadway Hall, beat P C Foreign Affair (Jason Brewer) and Showboat (Brett Miller). Ron Burke trains the winner for the Watson Stable. Sesame bested Air Assault (Dan Noble) and Lion Safari AS (Elliott Deaton). Trainer Chris Beaver co-owns the 4-year-old daughter of Triumphant Caviar with Steven Zeehandelar.

Next week the nine finalists in the Farwick Series, determined by earnings in the two prelims, will compete for a $27,500 championship purse. They are (in order): Red Rose Swan, Sesame, Air Assault, Broadway Mojo, Missprimetimemel, Vatanna, Peggy Sue, P C Foreign Affair and The Lion King AS.

Heavily favored Dealer's Table (Josh Sutton) scored in 1:53 in the first Hiteman Memorial division, besting Parklane Knight (Tyler Smith) and Always A Fiji (LeWayne Miller). The 3-year-old American Ideal colt, dispatched at 1-9 odds, remained undefeated in three career trips to post. Trainer Jeff Cullipher co-owns with Pollack Racing LLC.

Dashing To Da Wire (Tyler Smith, $19.20 win mutuel) sped to the fastest Hiteman triumph in the second split, beating Jack's Major (Trevor Smith) and favored Doctor Jimmy (Cam McCown) in 1:52.3. Larry Finn trains the 3-year-old Charley Barley colt for owner Brian Witt. Sweet Cruiser (Chris Page) produced an even bigger upset in the final division, topping DL's Big Elvis (Brett Miller) and Prince Sawyer (Josh Sutton) in 1:55. The Yankee Cruiser colt returned $26.20 for a $2 wager. It was just the second lifetime win for Sweet Cruiser, who hails from the powerful Ron Burke barn.

Dashing To Da Wire won the quickest division of the final preliminary leg of the Omar Hiteman Memorial Series at Miami Valley on Tuesday (Brad Conrad photo)

The $20,000 Hiteman Memorial final, for horses that started the series as non-winners of two races or $20,000 lifetime, will be next Tuesday (April 2). Finalists are: Dealer's Table, DL's Big Elvis, Dashing To Da Wire, Sweet Cruiser, Doctor Jimmy, Jacks Major, Parklane Knight, Skyway Three Ball and Smilenmyles.

Gregg Keidel