Despite the fact Safe From Terror had won three of the last five $20,000 Fillies and Mares Open Paces at Miami Valley Raceway, all as an odds-on favourite, the faithful thought her assigned No. 9 post position might be insurmountable and dispatched the razor-sharp four-year-old at odds of 7-2.
Driver Chris Page, however, didn’t believe the task was too daunting and worked out a trip that resulted in Safe From Terror emerging from a stretch cavalry charge to again reach the wire first -- this time in 1:52.4. Aqua Artist (Kyle Ater), the longest shot in the 10-horse field at 61-1, raced gamely to finish second with favoured Addys Way (Dan Noble) the third to trip the beam.
Safe From Terror was purchased at the Harrisburg sale last Fall by Winchester Baye Acres and has paid handsome early dividends. The daughter of Western Terror, who is being pointed towards the $100,000 Chip Noble Memorial Grand Circuit race at Miami Valley on closing day (May 8), has earned $67,640 already this year for her new owners and over $551,000 lifetime.
A trio of James K. Hackett Memorial elimination divisions, featuring Ohio-sired sophomore pacing fillies, were also contested with the top three finishers from each $10,000 split advancing to next Friday night’s $35,000 championship event. My Tweed Heart (Josh Sutton) captured the first elim in a track record-equalling time of 1:53.1 for sophomore fillies. The Carl Atley-owned daughter of Manhardt, who made $132,252 as a freshman, topped Its Your Fantasy (Dan Noble) and Clarebear (Kayne Kauffman). Jim Dailey conditions the winner, who now boasts five victories in her first eight career starts.
JL Wonder Woman (Kayne Kauffman) picked a good time to break her maiden, winning the second division in 1:54 for trainer and part-owner Scott Mogan and his partners. The Feelin Friskie lass bested Feelin Lilly (Chris Page) and Big Bad Bertha (Dan Noble) to advance to the ‘Big Dance’ next week.
The final elimination was garnered by She Gone (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) in 1:55.4, benefitting from soft early fractions and upsetting Queen Ann M (Chris Page) and Im Feelin Fine (Josh Sutton). Trainer Brian Brown also co-owns the winner, who is now two-for-two since returning from winter training in Florida recently.
Driver Dan Noble had the hottest hand on Friday winning five races. Noble’s successes came behind Igotafeelinfran, Yankees Lady, Lindysbathinbeauty, Edita Hanover and Herzon.
(With files from Miami Valley Raceway)