by Miami Valley Raceway
Lebanon, OH —Boys Round Here (Sam Widger) benefitted from a second-over trip to capture the $24,000 Open Pace on Miami Valley Raceway’s second night, Saturday (Jan. 6) of the 2018 meet. Odds-on favorite Manhattan Beach (Trace Tetrick) raced gamely in first-over position from the quarter on and was only passed in the final strides. Stamkos (Chris Page) nosed out Ideal Rocky (Dan Noble) for the show money.
Conrad photo
SamWidger, in town early for the North America Drivers Championship startingSunday, guides Boys Round Here to a 1:54 score in the $24,000 Open Pace atMiami Valley.
Ryan Bellamy trains the winner for owners Robert Bellamy and Chris Bulak. The 6-year-old gelded son of Real Desire has now won 21 of his 83 career races and the late-bloomer has earned $87,000 of his $133,000 lifetime bankroll in the last 12 months.
Boys Round Here paid $7 to win, the exacta returned $15.60, and the Buckeye High-Five on the feature race kicked back $146.21 for a dime.
“We are very encouraged by the start of our meet,” said John Marshall, Assistant General Manager of Miami Valley. “Despite record low temperatures during our first two nights, the grandstand has been full and our handle numbers are among the best in our brief five-year history.”
The excitement over Miami Valley’s opening week continues Sunday, Monday and Tuesday with three matinees featuring the $25,000 North America Drivers Championship. Thirty top reinsmen from throughout the United States and Canada will compete for the $10,000 first prize and the right to hoist the championship trophy. Post time is 2:05 p.m. on each matinee.