Lebanon, OH — Naked On A Hill used a late charge to take the featured $36,000 Filly & Mare Open Handicap on Thursday night (Feb. 26) at Miami Valley Raceway.
Starting from post 2, Naked On A Hill ducked off the wings of the gate to settle in fourth as favorite and last week’s winner, Hey Hey Mama, took command of the field to the quarter in :26.4. The field stayed single file past the half in :55.4 and remained that way until Foxy Hill was the first to make a move with three-eighths to go, dragging along Naked On A Hill second-over. Three-quarters came and went in 1:23.3, and as the field swung off the final turn and into the stretch, Hey Hey Mama’s lead had shrunk to a length as Foxy Hill attacked to her outside while pocket-sitting Tarapasta pounced from the inside, but the final blow was delivered from Naked On A Hill as she swooped up from mid-stretch and won by a half length in 1:51.1. Foxy Hill held for second while Hey Hey Mama faded to third. The short but competitive field was covered by just two lengths from front to back.
For Naked On A Hill, the win was her third of the year and second in her last three starts in Open company. Her 24th career victory in just 69 starts pushed her lifetime earnings to over $460,000. For trainer Ron Burke, it was his second win of the night. His other came with Aintnothingucando, completing Burke’s sweep of the top two classes on the card.
Racing at Miami Valley will return this Sunday (March 1) with a 4 p.m. post.