Conrad photo

Fusion Man just held off Cashahallic and Mama Made Me Blue to capture the $9,000 Open Handicap Trot at Miami Valley Raceway on Friday night.

Lebanon, OH — Despite a four-month layoff, Fusion Man started his 2014 campaign in impressive fashion Friday night capturing the $9,000 Open Handicap Trot at Miami Valley Raceway. Leading driver Tyler Smith, who will miss the Saturday session at Miami Valley to compete in the Legends vs. Phenoms drivers challenge at The Meadowlands, sent the 5-year-old son of Valley Victor directly to the front and gamely held off Cashahallic (Jim Pantaleano) and Mama Made Me Blue (Dan Noble) in a three-horse photo finish. It was the eleventh career victory for the winner who is trained by Tyler’s father Jeff Smith and owned by Tdtrot LLC of Florida. His 1:56.1 clocking was just one-fifth of a second off the track trotting record established in the first six weeks of the five-eighths mile oval’s inaugural meet.

The win was one of three on the night for Tyler Smith who also scored in both halves of the early daily double with pacer Gigaro and trotter Unfazed. Kayne Kauffman, who is second in the dash standings, kept pace with three tallies of his own behind pacers Cowboy Cal and Bluebird Ideal and the trotter Treasurer John. Scoring doubles on the program were Dan Noble, Randy Tharps and Josh Sutton as only five drivers combined to win all twelve of the Friday night races.

— Miami Valley Media Relations

The Meadows
A nine-race maiden entering Friday’s Donna Dunn Memorial Pace at The Meadows, Spiritina blew up the tote board with a shocking victory at 94-1 in the slop. There was no Show wagering in the race, but a $2 Win/Place ticket returned $422.20. Stirling Bella took the other $15,000, third-leg division in the series for 3- and 4-year-old filly and mare pacers. The Donna Dunn championship, along with the final legs of three other current series at The Meadows, is set for Friday, March 28. First post that day is 6:55 PM. Using Lasix for the first time, Spiritina got away fifth for Brett Miller and saved ground until the Lightning Lane beckoned. She outkicked Fashion Katie to down her by a head and score in 1:57.4. Sandy Hook Hanover was third. The 1-5 favorite, Small Town Charmer, ducked, followed dead cover and never was a factor. Norm Parker trains Spiritina, a 3-year-old daughter of Allamerican Native-Art Tina, for owner/breeder Bob Key. Stirling Bella had to duel for the early lead but was much the best once she got there, capturing her second Donna Dunn division in 1:58.1. The pocket-sitting Sure You Are was second, 2-3/4 lengths back, with Marissa third. Aaron Merriman drove the 4-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Fast Princess for trainer Dave Zito and owner Mervin Wengerd.

Buffalo Raceway
Armed Dangerously needed everything in his arsenal to hang on for a nose victory over a hard-charging Fiorentina in the featured $10,500 Open Trot at Buffalo Raceway Friday night (March 21) in a lifetime best of 1:58.1. It took every step for Armed Dangerously to capture his third victory in six starts in 2014. After finally disposing of a parked Detailer just past the half mile, Armed Dangerously had to prep himself for the stretch battle with the pocket-sitting Fiorentina. In the lane, Fiorentina (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) kept inching closer on the outside but ran out of real estate as Armed Dangerously ($6.10) and driver Ray Fisher Jr. had just enough ammunition left to shoot down the late challenge. Ilovemymommy (Jim McNeight) took the show position. Owned by Michael Torcello and trained by Gerry Sarama, Armed Dangerously, a 5-year-old horse, has now been in the money five of six starts in 2014 and improved his bankroll to $17,528 this season and $160,528 lifetime.

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
The Jackie Rousse stable went three-for-three on Friday night at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. The former leading training at the track has gone on a tear the last few nights and has now rattled off four consecutive victories. After winning the Thursday finale with the favored B Blissfull, Rousse scored three straight upsets on the Friday card. Trotter Just Make Believe (Kadabra) scored a wire to wire upset at odds of 12-1 then Rousse pacers Smart Rokker (Rocknroll Hanover) and Ubettorbeturlife (Bettor’s Delight) prevailed at odds of 30-1 and 7-1, respectively. Stephane Bouchard, who piloted four winners on Thursday, guided both Smart Rokker and Ubettorbeturlife to victories on Friday. Mark Beckwith was the winning driver behind Just Make Believe.