Lebanon, OH — Velocity Lady (Brady Galliers) scorched the Miami Valley oval in 1:50.2 beating Ocean Music (Dan Noble) and Single Girl (Tyler Smith) in the $34,000 Mares Open Handicap on Thursday (April 27).

Velocity Lady won the $34,000 Mares Open at Miami Valley in convincing fashion. Conrad photo.

Looking to replicate her 2022 season when she won eight times and earned $133,265 for Galliers Racing and Look Ahead Racing, the 6-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight has returned from a four-month layoff as good as ever with wins in two of her last three distaff features. Galliers got Velocity Lady away sixth in the early going, advanced to third on the outside at the half, and was second and pressuring pacesetter Single Girl (Tyler Smith) at the three-quarter pole. A closing :27.4 quarter from Velocity Lady was enough to wear down Single Girl, who finished third, and hold off Ocean Music, who benefitted from a pocket ride to grab second. Mary Kat (Tony Hall) and Im Offngone N (Trevor Smith) finished in a dead heat for fourth.

The fourth and final $50,000 James K. Hackett Memorial was also contested on Thursday, this one for Ohio-sired sophomore pacing colts. Low Rider (Trace Tetrick) just edged Mossy’s Dragon (Brett Miller) and Dynamite Dylan (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) to claim the championship tilt in 1:50.4.

Low Rider conserved energy early, getting away in fourth from his advantageous inside draw. Just past the :26.3 opening panel, the son of Downbytheseaside started a prolonged march towards the front. Tetrick had Low Rider lapped on to Dynamite Dylan at the head of the stretch and had just enough left to collar the pacesetter, who faded to third, and hold off Mossy’s Dragon by a nose.

Tim Lane conditions the winner for the partnership of Jame Stambaugh, Alan Keith and Milton Leeman. The victory was Low Rider’s third in five starts this season, in which she has already banked just under $50,000.

The final week of the Miami Valley season will include 4 p.m. starts on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; and then the 2023 finale, on Saturday, May 6, will include the first legs of all four Ohio Sires Stakes series for 3-year-olds as well as the $100,000 Pace Baby Pace Invitational, honoring the late Pacey Mindlin.