Pocono: Top pacing mare Niki Hill sharp in qualifier

Top pacing mare Niki Hill, coming off two NJSS Futurity victories in her only starts of 2023, turned in a winning 1:53 3/5 qualifier Wednesday morning at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pocono.

Dexter Dunn was in his usual seat behind the 4-year-old daughter of Always B Miki as she rattled off fractions of 29 3/5, 58 1/5, and 1:26 2/5 before storming home in 27 1/5 to win by open lengths for trainer Chris Ryder and owner Tom Hill.

Niki Hill, who has career earnings of $1,342,452 and was the champion 2-year-old of her class, is a possibility for the May 28 $100,000 Betsy Ross Invitational Pace at Pocono’s sister track under the PHHA banner, Harrah’s Philadelphia. It was exactly 52 weeks before that day, in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes competition, that Niki Hill had a final turn mishap and finished worse than second for the only time in her 19 lifetime races to date, causing her to miss much of her 3-year-old campaign. If Niki Hill would be in that race (the draw is next Wednesday) and emerge victorious, it could provide some solace for her unfortunate 2022 visit.

The replays of the Wednesday qualifiers at Pocono are on the PHHA website, www.phha.org (Niki Hill was in the seventh qualifier).

-edited release (Pocono/PHHA)