Lebanon, OH – Hilltop Sonar and A Million Dances, driven by David Miller who finished the night only $2,894 short of John Campbell’s all-time earnings record, won the co-features at Miami Valley on Tuesday night (Feb. 10).
Hilltop Sonar got things started in the eighth race in a short field scratched down to five. Leaving from post five, Hilltop Sonar and Chris Page found their way off the wings and into a pocket seat behind leader Massive Desire.
After an early break by Big Boys Edge, the field, now down to four, stayed single file through fractions of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:26.2.
Just as the field passed the three quarter pole, Hilltop Sonar popped out of the pocket and was quickly to the lead by the time the field turned for home and crusied to the win by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:54.2. Massive Desire held for second while Jet Wings finished third.
In the 10th race, A Million Dances didn’t get off the gait particularly well and was four wide heading into the first turn.
As the field started to settle in line, A Million Dances steadily gained ground on the outside but was still parked to the quarter in :28.2.
The 20-1 longshot, Long Ridge, continued to stretch out A Million Dances, as the two scooted away from the field by three lengths. A Million Dances finally cleared for the lead just past the finish wire the first time as they headed single file to the half in :56.2.
As they turned up the backside, a now strung out field started to close in the gaps near the three-quarter pole as A Million Dances continued to set the pace and Gabbys Rockytop came first up from fourth.
As they passed three quarters in 1:25.4, Gabbys Rockeytop closed to within a half-length of the lead but A Million Dances remained strong as they turned for home and held off the challengers to the wire in 1:55.2 to win by three-quarters of a length.
A hard closing Dry Creek Kodiak rallied from last for second, Flight Of Fritz was third.
It was the third win in a row for A Million Dances, the second since graduating in the nw10pm class.
Drivers Trace Tetrick, Luke Hanners, Tyler Smith and Chris Page each had driving doubles. Heather France scored the only training double.
Carryover Alert: No one was able to cash in on Tuesday night’s Pick-5, the carryover is now $23,663 for Wednesday’s (Feb. 11) Pick-5, which starts on race two.
Milestone watch: With David Miller just $2,894 from John Campbell’s all-time lead in driver earnings, tune in to see if history will take place when the action returns Wednesday night at Miami Valley with a post time of 4 p.m.