by Miami Valley Raceway
Lebanon, OH — Amarettigone and Keene Santanna stampedthemselves as the early favorites in the Herb Coven Jr. Memorial late closingseries by virtue of first leg victories on Friday night (March 2) at MiamiValley Raceway.
Driver Tyler Smith guided favored Amarettigoneto a gate-to-wire triumph in the first of the two $12,000 divisions, stoppingthe clock in 1:55.1 in front of Out Of Sight (Lewayne Miller) and Grandrosa(Chris Page). Trent Stohler trains the winning daughter of Real Desire forhimself and partners Benjamin and Tim Graber.
The Coven Memorial, for pacing mares thatare non-winners of four pari-mutuels or $40,000 lifetime, is one of nine annualevents that comprise the “Lebanon Legends Series.”
Keene Santanna prevailed from the second tierin the full 10-horse field second division. Driver Kyle Ater, who wonfour of the first seven races on the Friday program, adeptly weaved his waythrough traffic to nail Canadian Rocker (Mike Peterson) in the final strides ofthe 1:55.2 mile. National dash champion Aaron Merriman, who drivesregularly on the Miami Valley Friday night card, grabbed the show dough withGorgeous Ranger.
William and Elizabeth Keene along with partner DouglasBartley own and bred Keene Santanna, who is trained by James Short.
A second leg of the Coven Memorial will becontested next Friday night (March 9) with a $22,500 final going postward onMarch 16.
The Saturday night (March 3) program at MiamiValley will feature an outstanding $25,000 Open Handicap Pace as well as a pairof first leg divisions of the George Williams Memorial late closer for malepacers without four pari-mutuel wins or $40,000 career earnings. Posttime is 6:05 p.m.