Skyway Ballistic and Josh Sutton made their last start for owner Angel Howell a winning one, scoring in claiming action Tuesday, March 15 at Miami Valley Raceway. The duo covered the one-mile distance in a time of 1:52.0 before being claimed from the event.
Skyway Ballistic was a longshot winner for Josh Sutton at Miami Valley Raceway March 15. Photo by Conrad Photography
Starting from post four, Skyway Ballistic got away in mid pack with Captain Dolmio N taking the early nod to the lead, posting fractions of :27.2 and :54.4. He held strong on the front end despite getting pressure from the outside at the half by Major Bucks and Dan Noble.
Heading into the final turn, a full row of challengers had formed on the outside led by Skyway Ballistic. In the stretch, the Indiana sired gelding took over and paced home in :29.0 for the win by three-quarters of a length. Vel Charlie made it an Indiana sired double to finish second for driver Chris Page while Dreaminallthetime moved up late for Jeremy Smith for third.
Skyway Ballistic paid $12.20 for the win. The Always a Virgin six-year-old paid $12.20 for the win. Thomas Litt trained the Lyle Slabach-bred gelding, who was claimed by H & H Stable.
Skyway Ballistic earned his second win of 2022. Overall, he has 22 career wins and took his career best time of 1:51.3 as a five-year-old last year. He now has more than $127,000 in career earnings and has now been claimed in four of his last five starts to put new meaning in the claiming game.
Earlier in the day, Skyway Bella also represented breeder Lyle Slabach well with a win in conditioned pace action. The five-year-old Time to Roll mare was a strong finisher to win in 1:52.1 by six and one-half lengths. Dan Noble drove the mare, who paid $2.80 as the favorite of the field for owner Lucky Label Stable. Jason Robinson trains the Indiana mare, who earned her first win of 2022. Overall, she has 15 career wins in 64 starts with earnings of more than $70,000. Her latest win was a career best. She was a claim from her last start at Miami Valley to her new connections.