Painted Speed is April's Ohio Horse of the Month

Painted Speed was brilliant in winning two Open Handicap Paces in April at Northfield Park, and that’s why members of the Ohio chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers Assn. voted him as Ohio Horse of the Month.

The 6-year-old gelded son of Real Artist won the Open Handicap Pace at Northfield on April 3 in a dazzling 1:53 with driver Aaron Merriman steering him to a pacesetting victory by three-quarters of a length over Dan Chaz.

The following week Painted Speed was given post seven and was parked for the opening quarter before forcing his way to the front. He led all the way to the wire, again scoring by three-quarters of a length over Dan Chaz. This time the mile was clocked in 1:54.1

Painted Speed is trained by by Ryan Angus for Todd Liebman’s The Speed of Light Stable of Franklin Square, New York. Liebman has owned the pacer the past two years. In his career, Painted Speed has 21 victories in 111 starts. His 1:53 win in early April was his career mark.

After his consecutive wins at Northfield, Painted Speed next raced at The Meadows, where he finished fifth, but he returned to Northfield to start the month of May with a victory on Saturday in the Open Handicap Pace, again for Merriman.

Presentation of the Ohio Horse of the Month Award will take place soon at Northfield Park.