Two horses couldn’t be separated at the wire Sunday, Jan. 8 at Northfield Park in the $7,500 conditioned claiming pace. One of the winners was Tell Kadia, an Indiana sired daughter of Tellitlikeitis, who joined By By Ileen at the finish line for the shared win.
Tell Kadia (right) joins By By Ilene and Aaron Merriman for a group photo following their dead heat win Sunday, Jan. 8 at Northfield Park.
Tell Kadia was the first to head to the lead from post three, beating By By Ileen out of the gate to get the top spot. However, Tell Kadia didn’t have the lead for long as By By Ileen was out and moving around to the lead at the quarter in :29.0. Driver Aaron Merriman had a big lead on the field as Tell Kadia, driven by Nick Clegg, was gapping by several open lengths before By By Ileen slowed the pace down at the half in :59.1.
Horses began to form an outer tier heading to the three-quarters in 1:28.2 but some of the horses stalled on the outside, giving Tell Kadia the opportunity to move out and get ready for the stretch drive. Once in the stretch, Tell Kadia began to move up on By By Ileen with Stormy Princess and Billy Davis Jr. moving up the passing lane. At the wire, By By Ileen and Tell Kadia were determined the winners in 1:59.0, one length ahead of Babe’s Image, another Indiana sired product, who moved in late for third for driver Hunter Myers.
Tell Kadia paid $14.40 for her part of the win. The three-year-old mare is owned and trained by Betty Clegg. Victory Hill Farm Inc. bred the filly, who earned her third career win in the effort. It was her first start of 2023. She has been with the Clegg Stable since being purchased as a yearling for $3,700 from the Blooded Horse Sale in Springfield, Ohio. She sold under the name Truly Tell. The filly is the latest foal from the Always a Virgin mare True Fire. Tell Kadia took her career best time of 1:56.1 last fall at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
Only three tracks offered live racing Sunday in the United States. Joining Northfield Park for racing offered included Miami Valley Raceway earlier in the day and Cal Expo for a night cap program in California.