A classy field of Open trotters with $4,603,627 in combined earnings aligned for the $25,000 Open Trot at Miami Valley on Tuesday (April 27), but they were no match for Mission Accepted.

The six-year-old son of Manofmanymissions won his third-straight top trot, despite being assigned post 9 and being parked three-wide around the entire first turn.

Icanflylikeanangel, the eventual runner-up, left the gate quickly and stopped the first quarter teletimer in :27. Mission Accepted and driver Chris Page were caught widest of all as a number of hopefuls in the 10-horse field also sped off the gate vying for good early position. Finally reaching the front just before crossing under the wire the first time, Mission Accepted stopped the midway timer in :56.3 and clipped three-quarters in 1:24.2. A :29 final panel enabled the winner to hold off pocket sitting Icanflylikeanangel and show finisher Lane Of Stone, who rallied from the rear of the field.

Mission Accepted, who was broke and learned his juvenile lessons from trainer Jeff Conger, now races out of the Ron Burke barn for owners Burke Racing, Knox Services, David Willis and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. With 23 wins under his girth, Mission Accepted now has earned $926,997 as he marches toward millionaire status.

Miami Valley has just four days left in its 2021 season. Post time on Friday (April 30) is 4:05 p.m. (EDT) when 10 of the 14 races will be $17,500 Buckeye Stallion Series events for Ohio-sired three-year-old colts. Due to the Kentucky Derby, post time on Saturday (May 1) will be noon, featuring a pair of Open Paces and eight divisions of Buckeye Stallion Series races for fillies.

The final two programs, on Sunday (May 2) and Monday (May 3) will feature Ohio Sires Stakes races for the best pacing and trotting sophomores in the state. Post time on those two programs is 2:05 p.m. (EDT).

(Miami Valley Raceway)