The $30,000 championship final of the Dr. Dan Farwick Memorial Trotting Series, to be contested next Wednesday (April 6), shapes up to be quite a competitive fray based on results of the final two preliminary heats on Wednesday (March 30) at Miami Valley.
Fox Valley Britzka managed his second-straight upset victory in the first division, beating Double Down K and favoured Justa Hintof Spice in 1:57. The four-year-old Ross Leonard trainee paid over $30 winning one of three first-leg divisions, then repeated with a furious stretch rally in leg two — paying $27.40 to those that bought $2 win tickets on him.
Two races later (Race 12), Donato Patriot K notched his first series win in 1:55.3, topping Stay Close and Sly Little Fox. Marion Chupp trains the four-year-old son of Donato Hanover, who paid $9 to win, for the Ely Stable.
The top-three horses in each of the second leg splits qualified for the lucrative final, in addition to Roysons Punch, Magical Muscle Man and Wixx Hanover. Should any of the top nine fail to enter, SM Count On Me would be the next eligible.
Tony Hall’s win with Donato Patriot K was one of four scores on the day. Hall’s grand slam began with Letsmakithapncapn (1:55, $5) in the first race; followed by Worthabuck (1:52.3, $17.40) in the fifth and Mr D’s Dragon (1:55, $43.60 in the eleventh.
Racing resumes on Thursday (March 31) with a 4:05 p.m. (EDT) post time at Miami Valley.
(Miami Valley Raceway)