Lebanon, OH – Stablemates Carbine and I Did It Myway took two of the three opens at Miami Valley on Sunday afternoon (April 26) for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr.
Getting things started in Race 5 in the Open III, I Did It Myway left alertly and quickly cleared to the front as Rock The Hill and Hp Lis Shadow settled in second and third behind him through a speedy :26.3 opening quarter. As they headed past the stands for the first time, Night Shadow pulled slowly from sixth, bringing with him Cinderlane Cruiser and eventually flushing out Hp Lis Shadow from third. I Did it Myway led them past the half in :54.4, holding a 1-1/2 length advantage over pocket sitting Rock The Hill while Hp Lis Shadow closed in slowly on the outside.
With heads pointed towards three-quarters, I Did It Myway and Trace Tetrick stepped on the gas and opened up by 2-1/2 lengths while pacing a :26.4 (1:21.3) third quarter. Around the final turn that lead expanded to eight lengths by the top of the stretch. It then became a question of how fast and by how many. I Did It Myway did it his way, winning by 10-1/2 lengths in a sizzling 1:48.4. Night Shadow finished second while Big Fritz rallied from next to last to third.
It was I Did It Myway’s third win of the year and 40th career victory. The Captaintreacherous 7-year-old has now pushed above $1.5 million in career earnings.
In Race 7, the $36,000 Open handicap, Alta Revelry N left the gate to take command of the field with Carbine getting away in second and Grantmeawish in third through a sharp :26 opening quarter. The field remained in single file past the half in :54. As they moved onto the backside, Ardens Ace pulled first-over, flushed out by Naturally Gifted A as the two drafted up the outside to put pressure on even money favorite Alta Revelry N.
Passing three-quarters in 1:21.3, Alta Revelry N continued to show the way with Carbine hot on his heels, Ardens Ace N slowly making up ground and Naturally Gifted A making a three-wide move. As they turned for home, Alta Revelry N drifted out off the turn, opening up a lane for Carbine to attack from the inside as Ardens Ace N continued to grind closer on the outside. In deep stretch, Carbine slipped up the rail to win by a half length in 1:50. Ardens Ace N went a big mile for second while Alta Revelry N held for third.
For Carbine, the victory was his second of the season and 40th lifetime. The win moved his lifetime earnings to just shy of $700,000.
Chris Page had a four bagger on Sunday night’s card with Tetrick, Luke Hanners and Tyler Smith each picking up a double.
Racing action returns on Monday afternoon (April 27) with a 4 p.m. post.