Lebanon, OH – Pizzelle used a first-over trip to win the featured $32,000 Open II Handicap on Wednesday night’s (Jan. 21) card at Miami Valley Raceway.
Starting from post two, Pizzelle and driver David Miller floated out from the gate while the newest member to the 4,000 win club, driver Jeremy Smith, fired Kildare King hard from the inside to protect the rail and take the lead. Angel Nation and Bargain also left and secured the two and three positions as the opening quarter came and went in a speedy :27.4.
As the field came past the stands and the fans for the first time, Abbey D was able to flush out the 4-5 favorite Pizzelle into a first-over charge as Kildare King tripped the half in a modest :57.4. Pizzelle continued the first-over grind, closing to within a long neck at the three-quarters, in reached in 1:24.4, a :27 flat quarter.
Pizzelle and Kildare King locked horns and battled stride for stride around the final turn and into the stretch, when Pizzelle finally edged clear of Kildare King and began to pull away. Angel Nation, who had a ringside seat to the duel, decided to watch no longer and moved to the outside of a tiring Kildare King, following Pizzelle through the stretch drive but could pose no real threat as Miller and Pizzelle cruised home in 1:54.1. Angel Nation finished second while Abbey D secured third.
The win was the second of the early year for Pizzelle, and her third in her last four starts, bringing her lifetime total to 12 wins, and lifetime earnings to just over $647,000. The 5-year-old Walner mare is trained by Carter Pinske.
Trainer Heather France had a banner night at the Miami Valley oval, picking up three wins and two seconds in her six Wednesday night starts. Driver David Miller picked up four wins on the card while Brett Miller and Chris Page each had three.
Racing returns for the final night this week on Thursday (Jan.22). Action resumes at the usual post of 4 p.m. (ET).