The betting public got it right on Tuesday (Feb. 2) at Miami Valley, sending Its A Herbie off as the 4-5 odds on favourite in the $22,000 Open Trot.

The five-year-old son of Here Comes Herbie responded with a relatively easy 1:55.1 victory for driver-trainer LeWayne Miller, besting Workinitonbroadway and longshot Milfords Z Tam. It was the 15th victory for Its A Herbie, boosting his lifetime bounty to $465,242 for owner Verlin Yoder.

The Tuesday matinee also featured round-one action in the Survivor Series for $5,000 claiming pacing mares, divided into three divisions. The winners over the "sloppy" track were Princess Oshie (Trace Tetrick, 1:57.4, $4.20), Dilly Dali (Dan Noble, 1:58, $3.20) and Mary Catherine A (Tetrick, 1:58.4, $3.20).

The top six finishers in each of the three divisions advanced to round two, which will be contested in a pair of $7,500 splits, and determine the ten finalists for the $15,000 series championship on February 15.

The R. J. Brown Memorial trotting series for non-winners of two races or $20,000 also got underway in four full fields. Howyadoinbub (Noble, 1:59.3, $3.80), Ti Punch (Josh Sutton, 2:02.2, $10.80), Pick Me Upper (Brandon Bates, 1:58.2, $4.40) and Circle Of Life AS (Tyler Smith, 2:01.1, $51) were the winners of the quartet of $10,000 divisions. Many of the same green trotters will compete in $12,000 second round divisions next week before the top money winners gather for a $20,000 final on Feb. 16.

Next racing at Miami Valley will take place on Friday (Feb. 5) with a 4:05 p.m. (EST) post time. Following another 4:05 p.m. start on Saturday (Feb. 6), Miami Valley will start early (noon) on Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 7).

(Miami Valley Raceway)