from Miami Valley Raceway

Lebanon, OH — Indian Spirit proved his win in last week’s James K. Hackett elimination was no fluke by capturing the $30,000 championship on Saturday night (April 25) at Miami Valley Raceway in near identical fashion.

Conrad photo

Indian Spirit captured the $30,000 Hackett Memorial for Ohio-sired sophomore pacing males at Miami Valley.

Eased off the gate by driver Kyle Ater and settled into sixth at the quarter-mile station, Indian Spirit was content to move up a spot along the inside during the middle half before swinging wide at the head of the stretch and cruising to a convincing 2-3/4 length triumph in 1:54. Chief Talkalot (Jim Pantaleano) raced gamely on the outside the entire mile to finish second with Gray Camo (Chris Page) garnering the show dough.

Indian Spirit is owned by Gregory Forcum and trained by Dan Ater. His next start will be in the first leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes series for sophomore pacing colts at Miami Valley on May 2.

Earlier on the program, Ardyne Ace (Dan Noble) pulled an upset over heavily-favored Night Pro (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) in the $18,150 Open Pace. The winning 9-year-old’s clocking of 1:50.3 was the third fastest mile in the two-year history of Miami Valley.

Jim Pollock Jr. conditions Ardyne Ace for owners David Ehrenberg and Daniel Fawcett, who saw the son of Aces N’ Sevens’ lifetime bounty exceed $400,000 with the victory at odds of 10-1.

Night Pro, who was assigned outside and was parked through a first quarter in :26.4, held for second with longshot Mr Why (Ken Holliday) saving ground throughout to finish third.