Although a strong storm rolled in later in the evening cancelling the final seven races on the card, the first two races of the day Wednesday, March 1 were won by Indiana sired horses at Miami Valley Raceway. Both were trotters and both were longshots in their respective races to bring home the top money in each event.
Bluebird Maverick fends off challengers at the wire to score his second win of 2023. Photo by Conrad Photography
Bluebird Maverick and Tyler Smith lined up for the $22,000 upper conditioned trot and got away in mid pack as Pick Me Upper and Brandon Bates secured the top spot at the quarter in :28.1 before being overtaken by Dayson and Chris Page. From there, the second leader led the way through middle fractions of :57.2 and 1:25.3 before Bluebird Maverick was cued out to challenge. Around the final turn, Bluebird Maverick had caught up with the leaders and fought hard down the stretch, finally getting the nod at the wire in 1:54.3. Triathlon AS and Trace Tetrick closed in to finish a head back in second over Indiana sired Sly Little Fox and Jordan Ross, who also closed late for third.
Bluebird Maverick paid $22.40 for the win. The five-year-old Swan for All gelding is owned by Bobby Reeser, John Johannsen and Holly Case. Reeser also trains the product of Daryl Miller’s Blue Bird Farm.
Bluebird Maverick has a strong maternal line. He is a full brother to Bluebird Rambo, who has a mark of 1:53.3 and more than $319,000 in earnings. The family has a yearling filly by Pilot Discretion named Bluebird Lola, who will be ready for the sales this fall.
Bluebird Maverick now has 11 wins in 69 starts. His bankroll of $244,000 was mainly won during his three-year-old season and his career best time was taken as a four-year-old last year in 1:53.4. He was purchased by a variation of his current connections from the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale for $28,000. His impressive class of 67 sold at auction that year by Swan for All have earned more than $4.7 million and includes such standouts as Swingforthefences, Swift Swanda, Brookview Bolt, and Southern Swan Man, who was a winner in the evening’s opener at Miami Valley.
Southern Swan Man, a $20,000 purchase from the same sale as Bluebird Maverick, got away third for Trevor Smith and trotted an even mile before moving out in the stretch and scoring the win by one and one-quarter lengths in 1:57.2. Marty De Vie and Sam Widger finished second over Absolut Uncertenty and Chris Page for third.
Southern Swan Man paid $28.20 for the win. Also five, the Swan for All gelding is owned and trained by Don Campbell. Lester Knepp bred the gelding, who moved over the $100,000 mark with the win. It was his eighth win in 67 career starts. His career best time was a qualifier as a four-year-old last year at The Meadowlands in 1:56.0. He is a recently acquisition for Campbell, who was making his third start for Campbell after racing at Freehold Raceway earlier this year.