Screamin Seaman A goes out on a high

LEBANON, OH. – Class prevailed in the $20,000 Survivor Series championship for harness racing $5000 claiming pacers on Tuesday afternoon at Miami Valley Raceway.

Screamin Seaman A, the oldest and the richest of the ten finalists–who each advanced through three preliminary legs to get to the final–went gate-to-wire in 1:54.4 for driver Tyler Smith and owner-trainer Cole Fitzwater. In his final race, the 11-year-old Australian-born son of Armbro Operative certainly went out in style. Barely advancing through the trio of preliminary eliminations, due largely to consecutive outside post position draws, Smith and Screamin Seaman A took full advantage of their innermost starting spot in the championship. After seating a pair of fellow leavers through a :27.4 opening quarter, the champs lead the field through subsequent middle fractions of :57.1 and 1:25.3 before tacking on a :29.1 final panel to win by open lengths. Screamin Seaman A ended his career with 28 victories and $348,890 in earnings.

Longshot Crown Isle (Josh Sutton) took advantage of a mile-long pocket ride to finish second, while Maserati Seelster (Mike Oosting) rallied to grab the show spot. The winner paid $11.80, the exacta returned $145 and a 50-cent trifecta was worth $338.90.

Miami Valley employees and horsemen congratulate Cole Fitzwater for his series championship; and say "thanks for the memories" to Screamin Seaman A for providing so many thrills during a long and illustrious career.

Gregg Keidel