Lebanon, OH – The claim box at Miami Valley Raceway was flooded on Sunday afternoon (Jan. 12) as 18 $30,000 claims were submitted prior to the racing of the three divisions of the most lucrative annual Claim To Fame Series.  After eliminating the duplicates by random draw, a total of eight horses changed hands for a total of $240,000, including a pair of first-leg winners.

Southern Flight (Brady Galliers) copped the first $25,000 split for the $30,000 claimers.  The 1:53.1 upset winner ($26 win mutuel) topped Best Man Hanover (Trevor Smith) and Class Six (Shawn Barker II) for owner Brian Witt and trainer Larry Finn.  Favorites Rock Out and The Dark Shadow were both claimed from the race, but finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in this first leg action.

Heavily favored Street Boy (Trace Tetrick, $2.60) dominated the second division, besting The Book Of Life (Josh Sutton) and Noah Z Tam (Kayne Kauffman) in 1:52.  The winner, entered by Allard Racing Inc. and trained locally by Tyler George, was plucked via claim from the race as was the runner-up.

Tetrick also steered the winner of the final division, Normandy Beach ($5.60), who also clocked a 1:52 mile to beat Dakota Roadster (Trevor Smith) and Lincolnjames (Brady Galliers).  Allard Racing also owned this winner with partners Bruce Soulsby, VIP Internet Stable and Chris Carson-although Normandy Beach will race for new connections in the second leg after being one of four horses snagged from this field.  Others who shipped home in different trailers than they came were Lincolnjames, Get Around Town and Savage Seelster.

Claiming prices escalate by 30 percent in the second leg of the series next Sunday (Jan. 19), with purses jumping to $27,500.  The lucrative final in week three will chase a purse of $37,500.

Racing resumes at Miami Valley on Monday (Jan. 13) and Tuesday (Jan. 14) afternoons with the matinee programs beginning at 2:05 p.m.