GD Western Joe pulled a mild upset over Stars Align N in Miami Valley’s Saturday (Jan. 9) $22,500 Open Pace.
The six-year-old son of Real Desire won twice and was runner-up twice in his last four starts at Hollywood Dayton Raceway and continued his torrid pace of impressive performances in his first effort at Miami Valley.
Driver Chris Page fired his charge from post 8, forcing his prime adversary Stars Align N, who started from the nine slot, to round the first turn on the outside before letting him clear to the front nearing the :26.4 first quarter beam. A pocket ride from there to the head of the stretch poised GD Western Joe for a final attempt to get by the favourite, surging to the lead just steps from the finish of a 1:52.2 mile.