The four-year-old Rollwithitharry gelding Woodmere Alvin knocked a few ticks off the track record at the Miami Fair on Saturday (Aug. 13) in winning the co-featured $4,200 Horses & Geldings Open Pace.
Driver Don Howlett secured the lead with Woodmere Alvin early and paced to the first quarter in :28.1 with first-over pressure nearing from Gray Zee. Gray Zee inched closer to Woodmere Alvin into a :58 half, but the pacesetter swiftly turned him and the field away as he sprinted to three-quarters in 1:26.1. He then strolled to the finish 4-1/2 lengths better than Tagoras to stop the clock in 1:56.1, beating the previous record for an aged pacing gelding of 1:56.3 set by Gray Zee in Sept. 2020.
Mathew Howlett trains Woodmere Alvin for owners Don Howlett and Blair Kidd. The gelding won his 15th race from 53 starts and has now banked $87,510. He paid $2.70 to win.
Pure Addition delivered as the 1-9 choice in the $4,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace, named in honour as the Laurie Bell Memorial Pace.
Scratched to a field of three, Pure Addition raced mid-pack while Lil Screamer set a tempo of :28.3, :59.1 and 1:28.3. Driver Tyler Grundy began lifting the six-year-old Riverboat King mare from the pegs coming to the final turn and battled with Lil Screamer all through the stretch to put a nose in front at the finish of a 1:58.2 mile. Heavenly Evelyn finished third.
Jacqueline Grundy trains Pure Addition for owner Aurel Vodon. She won her 32nd race from 83 starts and has now earned $122,089. She paid $2.10 to win.
A $3,400 maiden race went earlier on the card named the Art and Betty Grundy Memorial. Fittingly, trainer Jacqueline Grundy and driver Tyler Grundy landed in the winner’s circle with Andys Treasure, who rallied off a pocket trip to a 2:04.1 victory by three-quarter lengths. The colt by Andreoli Hanover races for owner Aurel Vodon and paid $20.60 to win.
Trainer Travis Ellis scored a hat trick on the 12-race card. His wins came with Cartiere ($2.30), JKs Lifesaver ($3.40) and West Coast Beach ($2.30).
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results – Miami.