from Miami Valley Raceway
Lebanon, OH — Mojoto Hanover (Tyler Smith) completed a clean sweep of the Tom Tharps Memorial Series on Saturday (April 7) at Miami Valley Raceway. The 4-year-old Well Said gelding edged Classy Hill (Dan Noble) by a neck in a quick 1:51.4 clocking with Limited Edition (Jason Brewer) gaining show laurels in the $27,500 championship final.
Holton photo
Mojoto Hanover completed a clean sweep of the Tom Tharps Memorial Series on Saturday at Miami Valley Raceway.
Mojoto Hanover was one of two series contenders that had each won a pair of $15,000 preliminary legs. The other, Herehecomesarockin (Jared Finn), finished fifth in the final. The late closer featured horses and geldings that were non-winners of six pari-mutuel races or $60,000 lifetime.
Zachary Miller trains Mojoto Hanover, who now sports nine wins and $87,830 in earnings for owner Edward Dobrowolski.
The Tom Tharps Memorial honors the memory of the patriarch of a large racing family, many of whom are still active. His widow Carol was surrounded in the winner’s circle by a couple dozen children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as son-in-laws and daughter-in-laws. One of Tom and Carol’s sons, Randy Tharps, is the winningest African-American driver in harness racing history by a wide margin.
A pair of Open Paces were also presented on Saturday night. Angelo J Fra (Chris Page) successfully stepped up in class to capture the $23,000 Open I in 1:51.2, his fourth victory in 11 seasonal starts. The 6-year-old The Panderosa gelding is owned by Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi and trained in Ohio by Kris Hinchcliff. Favored My Hero Ron (Tyler Smith) and recently claimed Totally Kissed (Peter Wrenn) completed the trifecta.
My Buddy Ninkster (Josh Sutton) made every pole a winning one, going gate-to-wire in 1:52.4 in the $20,000 Open II. Feelnlikearockstar (Jason Brewer) and Prince Bayard (Kayne Kauffman) got the place and show dough. The victory gave veteran trainer Bob Phillips his 999th career conditioning triumph. My Buddy Ninkster is owned by John and Mary Krasnican.