Miami Valley: Survivor claiming series final set

First there were 40, then 20 and now 10 $5,000 claiming mares still hopeful of becoming “Queen of the Hill” in the popular annual Survivor Series at Miami Valley Raceway. The 10 finalists, who have survived by finishing in the top five during both preliminary elimination rounds, will chase a $15,000 championship purse next Monday afternoon (Feb. 18).

Likely favorite in the final will be Grimalkin, who has won in both preliminary elimination rounds. The 4-year-old daughter of Pet Rock won the quickest of the two second round elims in 1:55 3/5 for driver Trace Tetrick, narrowly topping Star Of The Show (Tyler Smith) with Rockin Zendaya (Brett Miller) finishing third. Also advancing from that heat were My Shiyen (Trevor Smith) and Fancy Jess (Josh Sutton). The top three finishers were all claimed in both elimination rounds, despite a 30% base claiming price increase in the second week of the series, and will race for new connections in the final.

Mystical Thread (LeWayne Miller) upset the other Survivor Series field at 25-1 odds to move on to the lucrative championship. Others who earned the right to advance were Karlee Sue (Sutton), Real Diva (Tetrick), Woo’s Princess (Dan Noble) and Friskie Teddy (Brett Miller).

The tandem Survivor Series for minimum tag male pacers will go postward on the Tuesday (Feb. 12) matinee program when two divisions will be whittled down to one championship field for the following week. Post time is 2:05 p.m.

-edited release (Miami Valley)