Penn puts forth another monster effort

Penn put forth another monster effort in Miami Valley's $20,000 Open Trot on Sunday afternoon (February 21), notching his fifth straight harness racing triumph in southwest Ohio over the last ten weeks. Trainer Bobby Brower is racing the six-year-old gelded son of Master Glide sparingly in an effort to keep him sharp through a long 2016 campaign he has charted out for him. To date the plan is working to perfection.

Despite a four-week respite prior to his latest victory, Penn was fired out from behind his assigned outside post position behind the gate by leading driver Josh Sutton. Despite being three-wide much of the first quarter, Penn collared Blackwolf Run (Randy Tharps), who had left alertly, as the quarter was reached in :27.3 and crossed over to the front just steps thereafter. Sutton was then able to 'steal' a relatively pedestrian :58.2 middle half before sealing the deal with a :28.4 closing panel for the 1:54.4 victory. The even-money favorite did get quite a scare from the only mare in the field, longshot Dancing Dynamite (LeWayne Miller), who made a valiant stretch bid that fell just a head short. Martz Time (John DeLong), who was last week's feature race winner, rallied for the show spot ahead of Cimeronken (Kyle Ater) and Blackwolf Run (Randy Tharps), who picked up the minor spoils in the full field of ten.

Penn returned $4.00 to his faithful with a $2 win ticket; the $2 exacta returned a healthy $58.00; and correct $2 trifecta tickets paid a handsome $300.80.

Barkley Counts of Tennessee owns Penn, who now boasts 31 career triumphs and $241,294 in earnings.

Gregg Keidel