Lebanon, OH – Sly Little Fox (Brett Miller) won the $25,000 Ray Paver Sr. Memorial Series final at Miami Valley on Wednesday (March 16) in dominating fashion. The lightly raced 4-year-old daughter of Swan For All bested Cheesy Hanover (Tyler Smith) and Secret Or Not (Trace Tetrick).

Trainer Mike Hollenback, caretaker Lexi Sarkine, driver Brett Miller and Race Secretary Gregg Keidel greet Sly Little Fox in the winner’s circle following Sly Little Fox’s 1:56.2 triumph in the Paver Memorial. Conrad photo.

Unraced at two, the championship triumph was Sly Little Fox’s ninth victory in just a dozen starts. As a 4-year-old, she now sports six wins in seven tries and seasonal earnings over $50,000.

It took Miller 3/8ths of a mile to clear eventual runner-up Cheesy Hanover and gain the privilege of controlling the pace. After two matching moderate :29.4 middle splits, Sly Little Fox sprinted home in 1:56.2 to seal the deal.

Trainer Mike Hollenback gave the champ last week off after winning a division of the first leg of the Paver Memorial. “I hated having to do it, but this mare races best with rest and I wanted her at her best going for $25,000!”, he exclaimed.

Owner and veterinarian Bambi Fox produced the homebred out of On Center Stage, one of just a few broodmares she keeps at her Paducah, Kentucky farm.

The final card of the week at Miami Valley will go postward at 4:05 p.m. on Thursday (March 17) with three Open paces and total purses of $227,500. Horsemen will all be hoping for “The luck of the Irish” on the St. Patrick’s Day program.