GD Western Joe continued his winning ways Saturday, Jan. 16 at Miami Valley Raceway, winning the featured $22,000 Open Handicap Pace. Driven by Chris Page, the Real Desire gelding scored his fourth victory in his last five starts in a time of 1:52.0 to go two for two in 2021.
GD Western Joe, shown winning with Chris Page at Dayton Raceway in December, is now two for two in 2021 with his latest win Saturday, Jan. 16 at Miami Valley Raceway. Photo by Conrad Photography
Starting from post nine, GD Western Joe moved over to the rail behind the field in last as race favorite Stars Align A and Dan Noble challenged My Hero Ron and Josh Sutton and The Dark Shadow and Trevor Smith three-wide to the first quarter in :26.2. From there, the pace settled to the half in :55.1 with Stars Align A leading the way. As the leaders began to tire, a second tier had formed on the outside putting GD Western Joe three-wide in the final turn to get into position for the stretch drive.
GD Western Joe turned in a final panel of :28.1, the fastest of the field, to get the win in the final stride by a half length over Tivo Hanover and Kayne Kauffman. The Dark Shadow finished third.
GD Western Joe paid $8.40 for the win. The six-year-old gelding is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Hen-Shaut Stable, J & T Silva-Purnel & Libby and Weaver Bruscemi. Ron Burke trains the Indiana sired standout bred by Gerald Yoder of Goshen, Ind.
GD Western Joe now has 27 wins in 98 career starts and earnings over $585,000. His career best time was taken as a four-year-old at Miami Valley Raceway in 1:49.3.
Earlier in the night, Family Recipe and LeWayne Miller picked up their first win of 2021 in a conditioned pace. The duo sat close to the front most of the mile before moving up in the final strides for the win in 1:51.4, a final panel in :27.4. Funatthebeach N and Dan Noble finished second over Indiana sired Uncmprmising Z Tam and Trace Tetrick for third. Vel Charlie, also Indiana sired, finished fourth for Chris Page.
Family Recipe, also trained by Miller, is owned by Miller, Arnold Manders, Joseph Vieira and Never 2 Late Stables. Lyndar Stables bred the four-year-old gelded son of Always a Virgin, who scored his eighth career win in his 28th career start. He is closing in of $200,000 in career earnings.