by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications
Delaware, OH — Keystone Apache went three wide heading to the final turn, passed leader M S Triple J, and then held off Can’t Afford It in the stretch to win Thursday’s (Sept. 21) $52,200 Standardbred Stakes for 2-year-old male trotters by a neck in 1:56.2 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds.
Can’t Afford It was second and M S Triple J, who raced on the outside for nearly the entire mile, was third.
Marcus Miller drove Keystone Apache for his father, trainer Erv Miller, and owners Ervin Miller Stable and Tangie Massey. The colt, a son of Explosive Matter out of the mare Found An Angel, has won three of nine races and earned $65,527.
Cinnamon Stick went to the early lead from post No. 1 and parked M S Triple J to his outside. Can’t Afford It, who started in the second tier’s post No. 9, was third on the inside and Keystone Apache was fourth to his outside. They remained clustered in that manner for most of the way, through fractions of :28.2, :58 and 1:27.4.
Nearing the final turn, M S Triple J passed Cinnamon Stick, but received immediate pressure from three-wide Keystone Apache.
“I knew when I was doing it that I was letting (Can’t Afford It) slip over, but (Keystone Apache) was so good and had so much go,” Marcus Miller said. “This track is all speed and I didn’t want to worry about trying to keep (Can’t Afford It) in and tried to scamper away as much as I could. It worked out.
“The track is lightning fast today; lots of good races. I’m really excited to be here.”
Sent off at odds of 7-5, Keystone Apache paid $4.80 to win.
“I can’t tell you much about how his temperament is in the barn,” added Marcus Miller, “but on the track he is just a very smart horse. He also always wants to finish and when you ask him he digs right in; like he did today. “
— Kim French also contributed to this report
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