from Miami Valley Raceway

Lebanon, OH — The stage is set for the James K. Hackett Memorial filly division showdown next Saturday night (April 26). A pair of $7,500 eliminations were contested Friday night (April 18) at Miami Valley Raceway to determine the nine Ohio-sired 3-year-old finalists that will chase the $25,000 championship purse next week.

Conrad photo

Crown Time Keeper sped to the quickest James K. Hackett Memorial elimination victory with a 1:56.1 clocking on Friday night.

In the first division, Crown Time Keeper sped to a 1:56.1 triumph for driver Chris Page, besting Friskie’s Angel (Randy Tharps) and God Only Knows (Jeremy Smith). Also advancing to the final were Lady Julie (Kayne Kauffman) and Mean Fever (Jason Brewer), who was the fastest fifth-place finisher from the two splits.

Steve Carter conditions the winner for long-time Standardbred enthusiast Esther Crownover, who also bred the daughter of Feelin Friskie.

Paydaze On The Way (Kauffman) was the easiest of winners in the second division, going gate-to-wire in 1:56.3 as the deserved odds-on favorite.

A compact field of rivals were all content to race single file behind the Ron Burke-trained daughter of Look Sharp as she coasted through pedestrian fractions of :28.2, :59.1 and 1:29 before pulling away with a quick :27.3 final panel to easily defeat Fayco Filly (Page), A P P Panda (Greg Grismore) and Baby Slider (Brewer) also qualified for the $25,000 final.

The partnership of Howard Taylor, Edwin Gold, Richard Lombardo and Karen Rose own Paydaze On The Way.

A pair of $7,500 Hackett Memorial eliminations for sophomore state-bred colts and geldings will race Saturday night (April 19) at Miami Valley to determine the lineup for their $25,000 championship on April 26.

An $8,500 Open Trot was also contested on Friday night with J J Hall (Kauffman) stepping to a 1:55.1 track record for squaregaiters.

The 6-year-old son of Jailhouse Jesse was content to sit third through three-quarters of the mile, moved up to second at the head of the stretch and exploded home for a 4-3/4 length win over Bookem (Josh Sutton) and E L Rock (Chris Scicluna).

The classy winning trotter is now two-for-two on the season for owner Douglas Millard and trainer Scott Mogan.