Author: by Mark McKelvie, Woodbine Communications

After working to clear the lead from her outside post, Always B First narrowly survived a late onslaught of challengers to prevail in a four-horse photo in Wednesday night’s (Feb. 15) $25,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace at Bally’s Dover.

Angel Nation sped to the quickest trotting mile of the year at Miami Valley on Monday (Feb. 15), winning the $30,000 Open Trot in 1:52.4.

The richest race thus far at the 2023 Miami Valley meet produced a thrilling photo finish — as expected — on Tuesday (Feb, 14), in the $35,000 final of the Claim To Fame Series for $20,000 claiming pacers. All eight of the preliminary leg winners over the past two weeks were present and accounted for when the field reported to the starter.

Tuesday (Feb. 14) brought a second day of qualifying races and the draw for Sunday’s (Feb. 19) card — the second of the new season — at the rechristened Pocono Downs at Mohegan Sun Pennsylvania.

Killer Instinct ($11.00) bided his time early and rallied from off the pace to score a mild upset in Monday’s (Feb. 13) $18,000 Open Handicap Trot at MGM Northfield Park.

Driver Dan Noble wasted no time blasting Let It Ride N to the front and turning every call into a winning one in Miami Valley’s $30,000 Open Handicap Pace on Monday (Feb. 13).

Driver Jim Morrill Jr. achieved another major milestone in his stellar career at Batavia Downs on Monday (Feb. 13) when he drove Sportskeeper ($4.70) to an easy gate-to-wire 1:56.1 victory in the seventh race to achieve his 8,000th lifetime win in the sulky.

A pair of high-level conditioned events and a starter allowance headline Saturday’s (Feb. 18) 2023 season opener at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Sun Pennsylvania, which is slated to begin at 1 p.m.

Penzance Hanover and owner-trainer-driver Art Stafford Jr. made a well-timed move to win Thursday’s (Feb. 9) $27,500 Blue Hen/Open Handicap Pace at Bally’s Dover.