Despite spending the last month in quarantine due to an equine herpes episode involving a different horse at his training center, Pick Me Upper returned to the track on Wednesday (Jan. 4) at Miami Valley and promptly upset the $30,000 Open Trot. 

Driver Sam Widger left the gate and fell into the pocket behind Angel Nation during the :28 opening quarter. The six-year-old son of Trixton was content to continue the pocket ride through middle fractions of :57.1 and 1:25.4. Pick Me Upper’s own :28 final panel was just enough to collar Angel Nation in the final strides, stopping the clock in 1:54. Angel Nation finished second and Tough Muscle took third.

The winning 17-1 shot returned $37.80 to win. The $2 exacta returned $147, the 50-cent trifecta paid $126.80 and a good 10-cent superfecta was worth $657.24.

Walter Haynes Jr. conditions Pick Me Upper for owner Brian Carsey. He now sports 20 wins and his earnings have eclipsed the $250,000 plateau.

Racing resumes Thursday at 4 p.m. (EST) at Miami Valley Raceway. The track’s regular schedule calls for live cards on Sunday through Thursday.

(Miami Valley Raceway)