Lebanon, OH — Voracity, a terror in the $30,000 claiming ranks for the first six weeks of 2021, stepped up into the $22,500 Open Pace on Saturday (Feb. 27) at Miami Valley and earned a hard fought 1:51.2 triumph. With the win, the 8-year-old son of Sportswriter became the leading money winning horse in North America this year.

Voracity became the richest horse in North America in 2021 with a 1:51.2 win in Miami Valley’s $22,500 Open. Conrad photo.

His $63,650 in seasonal earnings put him ahead of Jet Rock ($53,000), another Miami Valley regular who was idle this week. GD Western Joe ranks fourth on the national earnings list, giving Miami Valley three of the top four earning horses thus far this season.

The Miami Valley driving colony also boasts five of the top 10 money winning reinsmen in 2021, headed by national leader Trace Tetrick who surpassed the $900,000 purses won plateau on Saturday, just the 40th program of 86 scheduled through May 3. Others on the top national earners list are Dan Noble (third), Brett Miller (fifth), Chris Page (seventh) and Tyler Smith (10th).

Voracity (Noble) allowed a pair of outside gate leavers to settle ahead of him before quarter-moving to the front as the leaders passed the first timer in :26.4. The winner was allowed to race uncontested through the three-quarter station reached in 1:23.1 and then he opened up a two length lead around the final bend.

A cavalry charge erupted in the lane with a half dozen challengers slowly closing in and spread all across the track. Voracity showed the meddle he displayed winning three earlier top claiming events, though, and hung tough to the wire. Trace Tetrick won the exciting race for place with his brother Tim’s 5-year-old Sweet Lou gelding, Crimson And Chrome, followed by Loutenant (Tyler Smith), General Dolan (Brandon Bates) and Tivo Hanover (Kayne Kauffman).

Noble’s wife Christi is trainer of Voracity and his Norman Rae Racing co-owns with Donald Morris.

A quartet of $12,500 divisions of the first leg of the George Williams Memorial Series were also contested. Winners, all of whom were non-winners of four races or $40,000 at the nomination date, were Tint Of Mint (Kauffman, 1:52, $9), My Wish Came True (Brett Miller, 1:51.2, $16), WF Eeyore (Tetrick, 1:51.2, $5) and Hamsandwich (Tetrick, 1:51.4, $3.60).

Both Tetrick and Noble fashioned driving grand slams on the Saturday program. Tetrick’s 104 seasonal tallies trails only perennial national leader Aaron Merriman, while Noble is a solid eighth on the top dash leaders list with 69 victories, all at Miami Valley.

Racing resumes Sunday with a 2:05 p.m. post time.