Windsong Leo captured his sixth Open Handicap Pace victory of 2020 on Saturday night (March 7) at Miami Valley Raceway. All of his aforementioned wins have come from assigned outside post positions.
In his latest score, driver Chris Page urged Windsong Leo right past an open two hole while parked around the first turn. Once the tandem reached the first quarter beam in :27, they rolled to the lead and controlled middle fractions of :55.3 and 1:22.3 before sealing the deal in 1:50. General Dolan, who owns the quickest mile of the season—a 1:49.3 tally in last week’s Open—shadowed the winner throughout and made it interesting in the stretch before settling for second. My Hero Ron rallied to secure the show spot while Ana Afreet N and Lifewithjohn earned the final two checks in the $24,000 affair.
Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Phil Collura own Windsong Leo, whose lifetime earnings now stand at $663,505 with 56 wins in 122 trips to post.
A trio of final preliminary legs in the George Williams Memorial Series were also contested. Winners of the final $15,000 tune ups were E Modes Desire (Mike Peterson, 1:51.3, $18.00), Gold Digger King (Miller, 1:53.3, $3.00) and Loutenant (Shawn Barker II, 1:53, $23.40).
E Modes Desire, benefitting from an extremely quick :25.3 opening split, rallied from near the back of the pack to catch Gunrneedabgrboat A and Colition in the closing strides. Gold Digger King just nipped Diesel Accelerator with Motor City Man a close up third. Loutenant upset Peter Dalt and heavily favoured Dashing To Da Wire in the final division.
Championship finalists in all nine of the “Lebanon Legends” late closers during the annual Miami Valley meet are determined by series earnings. Those who will vie for the championship in the $27,500 final, in order of earnings, are Gold Digger King, Diesel Accelerator, Loutenant, Dashing To Da Wire, E Modes Desire, Gunrneedabgrboat A, Peter Dalt, A Stud Named Sue and Unlikeanyother. Friday Night Blues would get into the final if any of the top nine earners fail to declare.
(Miami Valley Raceway)