Lebanon, OH – Ocean Music won the final Open Mares Pace of the 2023 meet at Miami Valley on Friday (May 5) – and did it in style. The 4-year-old daughter of Racing Hill-Ocean Pearl broke the oldest standing divisional track record in the 10-year history of MVG. It was set during the inaugural season, 2014, when Shebestingin won the Chip Noble Memorial Grand Circuit Stake for driver David Miller in 1:50.4. Ocean Music broke the record a decade later by three-fifths of a second, lowering the standard to 1:50.1.

Ocean Music breaks track regor for 4-year-old mares in final $36K martes open at Miami Valley, Conrad photo.

Chip’s son, Dan Noble, was in the sulky for the record setting mile. For owner Sandra Burnett it was a particularly timely victory. Just recently, Ocean Rock, one of Ohio’s best in recent years— and a half brother to Ocean Music—was retired due to an injury and now another superstar emerges in her stable.

Christi Noble, Dan’s wife, is listed trainer on Ocean Music, and Sandra Burnett is no stranger to the family. She has been owning winning horses back to the late Chip’s days and has carried on with Dan and Christi.

Dan sent Ocean Music on a mission from the word “go,” although he emphasized he did not realize what the record was until returning to the paddock following the race. He lead every step after refusing to let Marloe Hanover (Sam Widger) get by him during the first half mile. Only Single Girl (Tyler Smith) had any chance of overtaking the leader following a perfect pocket trip. But Ocean Music paced resolutely through the lane holding the challenger at bay. Foxy Fiji (Austin Hanners) closed for third.

It was the ninth career win for Ocean Music, a beautiful grey mare who has now earned $128,603 in her first two years of racing.

The final 2023 card of the meet is Saturday (May 6) with an early post time of noon.