Miami Valley: Carbine wires field in Pacey Mindlin Memorial

Carbine and driver Austin Hanners sprinted out sharply to gain control on the opening turn and took the field wire-to-wire to capture Saturday's $100,000 Pacey Mindlin Memorial at Miami Valley Raceway in a solid 1:49 1/5 clocking.

The Mindlin, named in honor the late handicapper extraordinaire, had the most action from start to finish, with Hanners asserting himself behind Carbine in the field reduced to six following a pair of early scratches. Carbine out-sprinted MGM Borgata Pacing Series champion Hellabalou to gain control midway on the turn. Also leaving were Little Rocket Man between horses and Artatac A from the outside post. Once on top it was clear Hanners was not going to relinquish control, so Little Rocket Man, with John De Long, took a seat along the pylons before the 25 4/5 opening fraction. Dan Noble was not as fortunate, and his mount, Artatac A, was parked out for the duration.

Carbine and Hanners were able to rate the middle-half with fractions of 53 4/5 and 1:21 3/5 as Little Rocket Man tried to circle tired cover on the backstretch but was unable to get near the leader. Hanners urged the Virgil Morgan Jr.-trained Carbine on the final bend, and the 6-year-old by Somebeachsomewhere responded in kind to sprint home with a 27 3/5 final quarter and win convincingly. Hellabalou was safely in second, well behind the winner, with Taurasi making a late charge for third.

Owned by Odds On Racing, Carbine won for the third time in his last four starts and seventh time this season. As a 9-2 option, he returned $11.40 to win.

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In Ohio Sires Stakes action earlier on the program, Jurassic Hattie and Brett Miller captured the $100,000 3-year-old filly trotting division in 1:54 for her third victory without defeat in 2024, while Seaside Diva gamely held off Bath Bomb in the $100,000 sophomore pacing filly event for driver Chris Page in a career-best 1:51 effort.

Clever Cody made his sophomore debut a winning one in the first of two $65,000 3-year-old colt and gelding pacing divisions, scoring for Aaron Merriman in a career-best 1:50 1/5 clocking. In the second $65,000 division Rose Run Zane was dominant for driver Austin Hanners, scoring in 1:50 4/5 for his fifth straight win, all at Miami Valley. Royal Precedent and driver Trace Tetrick held Spaaaanzano at bay in the stretch to capture the $100,000 Sires Stakes for sophomore male trotters in 1:54 1/5. It was the first win this year in three tries for the son of Creatine.