by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Delaware, OH — Classical Annie pulled around a breaking Katniss on the final turn and held off favorite Smexi in deep stretch to win the first of two $54,600 divisions of the Buckette for 3-year-old female trotters in 1:54.1 on Wednesday (Sept. 23) at the Delaware County Fairgrounds.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Classical Annie was a 1:54.1 winner for driver Aaron Merriman.

Katniss went to the front at the start from post one, with E L Love going off stride on the first turn from post six, and the field lined up in numerical order with the leader followed by Classical Annie, Smexi, Josie’s Joy, and Crime Wave Hall. There was no movement as the field reached the halfway point in :56 and three-quarters in 1:24.

Smexi and driver Corey Callahan started to make a move from third, at which time driver Aaron Merriman began to move Classical Annie to the outside. Almost simultaneously, Katniss began to slow and went off stride. Classic Annie took the lead and went on to the win by a neck over Smexi. Josie’s Joy finished third.

“As soon as (Smexi) didn’t fire going into the last turn first over I was going to move as late as possible,” Merriman said. “Corey got to my wheel and I moved. (Katniss) ended up making a break, but I don’t think it mattered. I think it was Corey and I’s race anyway.”

Classical Annie (Andover Hall-Clasicaly Designed) has won four of 13 races this year and earned $79,311 for trainer Jim Arledge Jr. and owners Laura Baker, John Schmucker, and Thomas York Jr.

“I didn’t drive her in the beginning of the year but I watched her race and knew she had ability,” added Merriman. “When I did drive her Jimmy (Arledge) told me she got really hot and she did. What I told him was she needed to learn how to sit in the hole rather than be on the lead. I knew if we kept doing that with her one day it would all come together and that is what’s happening right now.

“Jimmy has done a great job with her, her groom is with her all the time. She is such a big strong filly and I think she will only improve. She does everything perfectly now.”

In the second $54,600 division of the Buckette, longshot Speak To Me surged from behind a wall of horses at the top of the stretch and overcame favorite Gatka Hanover in the final strides to post the win in 1:55.1.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Speak To Me was a 1:55.1 winner for driver Brett Miller.

Lilu Hanover went to the front and Lady Winona dropped into second place in an opening quarter-mile of :28. At the half, Smokinmombo was making a first-over bid, followed in the outer flow by Gatka Hanover, as the field reached the marker in :57. Lilu Hanover remained in front at three-quarters, timed in 1:25.2, but was joined at the top of the stretch in a three-wide line by Smokinmombo and Lady Winona.

Gatka Hanover was able to overtake the trio in mid-stretch, but she was unable to hold off Speak To Me and driver Brett Miller in the late moments. Speak To Me paid $29.80 to win. Gatka Hanover finished second by a half-length and Lady Winona was third.

Speak To Me (Muscle Massive-Ms Naughty) has won two of 11 races this year and earned $114,911 for owner Brittany Farms and trainer Jimmy Takter.

“A lot of people may not see it but last year at two she had a ton of ability and this year it’s not like she hasn’t moved forward,” said Brett Miller. “She has just had really bad luck. And it’s not any one thing but everything — bad draws, bad racing luck. You name it, she’s had it, so this is a huge win for her. It’s just taken awhile to get it for her.”

— Kimberly French also contributed to this report