The Bethinator is on quite the roll on the southwest Ohio circuit. The just turned four-year-old won for the fourth time in her last five starts, copping her third Mares Open in her last four tries on Friday (Jan. 8) at Miami Valley Raceway in 1:52.

Driven by Tyler Smith, the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere was dispatched as the second choice in the betting and returned $6.40 to win. Coupled with 12-1 longshot Summer Charm (Josh Sutton) the $2 exacta paid $42.80. Sugar Dance (Brett Miller) finished third creating a $43.15 payoff for a correct 50-cent trifecta ticket.

Nelson Willis conditions The Bethinator for owner Megan Rogers Racing Stable.

The popular Miami Valley “Claim To Fame” series lifted off on Friday night with $20,000 mare pacers competing in three divisions and $12,500 male pacers featured in six splits.

Winning the trio of distaff claimers, going for $20,000 purses, were M E Radar Girl (Trace Tetrick, 1:55, $4), American Cheer (Josh Sutton, 1:53.2, $11.80) and Malnificent (Tetrick, 1:52, $17.40. A total of five mares were purchased via the claim box for a total of $120,000, although none of the winners was among them.

In the boys' six divisions chasing $12,500 purses, the winners were Armabluechipboy N (Kayne Kauffman, 1:54, $69.60), J M Jet Set (Dan Noble, 1:53.1, $4.60), Giuseppe Mollusca (Noble, 1:55.1, $8.60), Panoramic View (Tetrick, 1:54.4, $5.80), Sprinter N (Chris Page, 1:54.3, $4.80) and Persistent Threat A (Page, 1:56, $3.20). Fourteen of the 54 hopefuls that went to post in the first leg will race for new owners, due to claims, for a 30 per cent increase in their value in leg two.

Chris Page topped all drivers on the program with five trips to the winner's circle. Leading driver Trace Tetrick had a triple, while Dan Noble and Josh Sutton each fashioned driving doubles. Sutton is now just three tallies away from the 5,000-career win plateau.

Racing resumes at Miami Valley on Saturday, with a 4:05 post time.

(With files from Miami Valley)