LEBANON, OH. – The Dr. Dan Farwick Memorial harness racing series at Miami Valley Raceway came to a conclusion on Tuesday afternoon (April 18) with the $27,500 championship leg.
The late closer for non-winners of six races or $60,000 lifetime was open to trotters foaled in any jurisdiction, but it was a pair of Buckeye breds who finished one-two at the end of the 1:54.1 mile.
Another Breath (Jason Brewer), despite drawing the dreaded nine-hole on the outside of the starting gate, triumphed for the second straight week beating Lets Go Bucks (Dan Noble) and Milford's Z Tam (Tyler Smith). The Land Shark (Kayne Kauffman) cut all the fractions (:27.1, :56.3 and 1:24.3) before faltering in the stretch when a cavalry charge to the wire ensued. Another Breath got away fifth, moved second over and up to fourth at the half, was third on the outside at the three quarters, then tipped three-wide off of eventual runnerup Lets Go Bucks cover and pressed to the front just steps from the wire.
The winner, a 4-year-old son of Lou's Legacy, now has eight career wins and $150,488 in earnings. He was recently purchased by owner Richard Mishkin and moved to the Jeff Johnson Jr. barn.
A $20,000 Open Trot was also contested with the lone mare in the 7-horse field schooling the 'boys' in 1:53.4. Moving up into open company for the very first time, Honey B (Kyle Ater) outdid Don't rush (Mike Oosting) and Walter White (Dan Noble) for her 13th career triumph, raising her lifetime bounty to $238,581. Dan Ater trains the 5-year-old daughter of Victory Sam for Jim Burnett and Tim Homan.
Gregg Keidel