Golden Paradise capped off a big day for driver Trace Tetrick and trainer Tyler George. The win with the Indiana sired son of Allthatgltrsisgold was the fourth winner on the card for Tetrick and the third for George to kick off opening day at Miami Valley Raceway Sunday, Jan. 3.
Golden Paradise provided win number four for driver Trace Tetrick and win number three for Tyler George on the season opener at Miami Valley Raceway Sunday, Jan. 3. Photo from 2020 by Conrad Photography
Favored in the field, Golden Paradise had post one but was beat to the first quarter by Rosetta Star and Jeremy Smith in :28.2. However, Tetrick wasted no time getting the seven-year-old mare out and rolling to the top by the half in :57.2. The mare continued to lead the way through the three-quarters in 1:25.4 before pulling away from the field in the stretch to win by five and three-quarter lengths in 1:55.3. Youlookhot and Tyler Smith closed in for second over Likeafireballshot and Josh Sutton, who also closed late for third.
Owned by Sam Schillaci, Wrenn Jr. Racing LLC and George, Golden Paradise was bred by Victory Hill Farm. It was the first win in the first start of 2021 for the mare, who now has 32 career wins in 101 career starts with earnings in excess of $273,000. Her career best time of 1:50.2 was taken as a five-year-old at Miami Valley Raceway.
Joining Golden Paradise as a winner for George and Tetrick included Voracity in a time of 1:53.1, and Secret Threat, winner of the season opener in a time of 1:52.4. Tetrick also scored a win behind the Patricia Brewer trained Friskiesonaroll in a time of 1:56.4.
Another impressive Indiana sired winner on the day was It’s a Herbie in the higher conditioned trot. The five-year-old gelded son of Here Comes Herbie is currently being campaigned by trainer-driver LeWayne Miller for Verlin Yoder, who is in Bell, Fla. preparing two-year-olds for the upcoming racing season in Indiana. It’s a Herbie moved three-wide around the final turn to trot home in :28.1 for the win by three-quarters of a length in 1:57.1. Setit and Forgetit and Cameron McCown finished second over Muscular Babe, an Indiana sired daughter of Guccio under the direction of driver Kyle Wilfong for third.