Miami Valley: Sectionline Bigry best in Hackett Memorial for male pacers

Sectioline Bigry backed up his 1:51 3/5 win in his elimination by putting a 1:51 1/5 mile on the board in the final of the $40,000 James K. Hackett Memorial for 3-year-old Ohio-sired pacing colts and geldings on Saturday night at Miami Valley Raceway.

Bus Ninethirtysix (John Cummings Jr.) shot through from the pole position to the top at the 27 1/5 opening quarter, but Sectionline Bigry (Tyler Smith), who had gotten away in the pocket from post eight, moved to the point right after that. Sectionline Bigry was immediately confronted by a first-over Bounding Dragon (Josh Sutton), and they raced side-by-side to the half, which went on the board in 55 3/5.

Sectionline Bigry was able to keep Bounding Dragon at bay to the 1:23 1/5 three-quarters as well, then got away from him on the far turn and into the upper stretch. Sectionline Bigry got a bit weary late, but Smith urged home to win by three-quarters of a length. Bounding Dragon was the runner-up, with Dragonolgy (Chris Page) coming on from sixth to finish third.

A gelding by Pet Rock, Sectionline Bigry is trained by Steve Bauder for owners/breeders Harold Lee and Harold L. Bauder. This was Sectionline Bigry's fifth career victory, and he has now earned $85,229. He was sent off as the 3-2 co-favorite and paid $5.20 to win.