Lucky Lime completed the climb to the top of the ladder at Miami Valley Raceway by winning the $25,000 Open I Pace in 1:51.1 on Saturday, March 3.
His win in the Open was the nine-year-old gelded son of Rocknroll Hanover's third-straight victory, following wins in a top conditioned pace two weeks ago and a victory in the Open II last Saturday.
Driver Kyle Ater positioned Lucky Lime, sent the favourite, midpack along the pylons in the early going. Finding room at the rail as horses moved wide, Lucky Lime gained ground at the inside, sliding through the passing lane and taking control from a five-wide charge to the finish. Heza Thrill N and Southwind Amazon were flying in the middle of the track to claim second and third, respectively.
.jpg)
The victory was the 41st in Lucky Lime’s career and ballooned his lifetime earnings to $471,353. He is owned by Kirk Nichols and conditioned by Dan Ater.
The Open II earlier in the program was captured by Savage Seelster in a 1:51.3 coast-to-coast. The eight-year-old Camluck gelding topped Fancy Creek Elusiv and Dalhousie Dave for his fourth win in 2018, his first in Open company. Robert Bellamy and Chris Bulak own Savage Seelster, who is trained by Jeff Brewer and was driven by Jason Brewer.
A pair of opening leg divisions were also contested in the George Williams Memorial late closing series for non-winners of four pari-mutuel races or $40,000. Mindtrip won in 1:52 in the initial split, beating Real Gorgeous and Stubble Trouble. Peter Wrenn drove the five-year-old son of American Ideal for owner Dana Parham and trainer Melanie Wrenn.
The second $12,000 split also went to the favourite, with Parklane Official pacing a 1:53.2 mile for driver Trace Tetrick, trainer Nelson Willis and owner Shirley LeVin. A lightly-raced three-year-old sired by Art Official, the winner now owns five wins in just a dozen lifetime starts.
Miami Valley will present three-consecutive matinee programs over the next three days with a 2:05 p.m. post time on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
(With files from Miami Valley Raceway)