Lebanon, OH – Pace Baby Pace, named to mimic Miami Valley handicapper Pacey Mindlin’s signature sign-off slogan, won her first open company race in southwest Ohio on Friday night (Jan. 15).

Driver Chris Page was content to race midpack in the early going, then moved into the outer flow following The Bethinator (Tyler Smith) as the field approached the halfway point of the $22,500 Mares Open. Swinging three wide for the stretch drive, Pace Baby Pace edged past The Bethinator and then collared frontrunner Miss You N (Jeremy Smith). The 1:52.4 score was the 13th of the winner’s career and pushed the 5-year-old daughter of Sweet Lou’s earnings over the $200,000 plateau, much of it coming from wins versus top company at The Meadows.

Pace Baby Pace swept past The Bethinator, Summer Charm and Miss You N to capture Miami Valley’s $22,500 Mares Open Pace on Friday. Conrad Photo. 

Pace Baby Pace is a homebred owned by Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi.

Finalists were also determined during Friday action for the first two of nine Claim To Fame series currently underway at Miami Valley.

Five divisions were necessary in the final preliminary leg for $12,500 claiming male pacers. Quickest winner was Sprinter N, who won his second straight in the series, this time in 1:52. Brett Miller drove the winner who paid $7.40. Other winners were Franzo (Sam Widger, 1:52.3, $3.60), Commentariat (Miller, 1:54.1, $5.40), The Great Buzz N (Trace Tetrick, 1:53.2, $7.80) and Ohio Larry (Kayne Kauffman, 1:54, $32).

The nine top money winners in the preliminary legs, who will compete for a $25,000 championship purse next Friday (Jan. 22), are (in order of earnings): Sprinter N, Commentariat, Franzo, Ohio Larry, The Great Buzz N, Armabluechipboy N, J M Jet Set, Persistent Threat A and Panoramic View.

Two splits for $20,000 claiming mares also went postward with repeat winners in both divisions. American Cheer (Josh Sutton, 1:52.3, $3.40) and M E Radar Girl (Tetrick, 1:53.2, $10) established themselves as the favorites for the $30,000 final.

The championship field will include: American Cheer, M E Radar Girl, Duck Duck Dragon, Malnificent, Part Time Hanover, Juslikeaqueen, American Empress N, D Gs Elsa and I Choose You.