The first of nine annual “Lebanon Legends” series to be contested at Miami Valley Raceway over the next couple months kicked off on Sunday (Feb. 27). Three $15,000 divisions of the George Williams Memorial Series for pacing males who were non-winners of four pari-mutuel races or $40,000 lifetime at nomination deadline went postward. Post-time favourites and a strong second choice were victorious in the first leg.

Heavily favoured Cody Hanover was an easy 1:53.4 winner in the first split, wiring the field without an anxious moment. CC Official got up for second, slightly over two lengths behind, while Big Chief Arrow was next best. Andre Nared trains the five-year-old winner, a son of Dragon Again, for Lionel Watiker. Cody Hanover won 13 races at Ohio county fairs during his juvenile seasons, then won three times at Yonkers Raceway as a four-year-old out of the Jen Bongiorno Stable. Off at 1-9, Cody Hanover returned a paltry $2.20 to win with Dan Noble in the bike.

Dial Him Up, a 6-5 favourite driven by Trace Tetrick, used similar tactics to win the second division, beating Freddie Faves by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:52.4. Tuggin On My Heart and Advance Man couldn’t be separated at the finish line resulting in a dead-heat for third. The impressive score was just the fourth for Dial Him Up, who is conditioned by Rob Cook for owner Millard Adams. The winner has banked almost $22,000 in six 2022 starts and now sports a two-race win streak. Dial Him Up returned $4.60 for a $2 bet.

Amour Chief, off at 2-1 with Chris Page in the sulky, also played “catch me if you can” in the third split, holding off Rose Run Warner and 9-5 favouyrite Smile Today in 1:54.  Page is co-owner of the winner with George Birkhold, with Tim Grubb doing the conditioning. The four-year-old by Yankee Cruiser now has six wins with half of them coming at county fairs. The $6.80 win mutual was the largest of the three opening-prelim events.

Next Sunday’s (March 6) second leg of the George Williams Memorial Series will carry $20,000 purses. The Sunday (March 13) championship will feature the top money earners in the series facing off in a $30,000 final.

Miami Valley races at 4:05 p.m. (EST) every Sunday through Thursday.

(Miami Valley Raceway)