Hey Hey Mama picked up her third Open victory of the year at Miami Valley Raceway on Thursday, April 2.

Firing out from post one in the $50,000 Fillies & Mares Open Handicap Pace, Hey Hey Mama and driver Luke Hanners protected inside position, ceding the lead to last week's winner No Foolin April (Brett Miller). As they approached the quarter, No Foolin April jumped a pile of manure left on the track right before the start, making a quick break and forcing Hey Hey Mama to vacate the pocket and a few fillies behind to scatter. Hey Hey Mama pressed on to the lead while No Foolin April got right back to pacing and settled into the pocket past an opening quarter of :26.2. 

As the field neared the half in :55.2, Beautiful Seaside (Tyler Smith) pulled first-over to challenge the leaders. Hey Hey Mama continued to lead the field up the backside with Beautiful Seaside slowly closing in and No Foolin April sitting in the pocket. As they passed three-quarters in 1:22.2, Hey Hey Mama continued to lead by a length and a half, while Beautiful Seaside started to tire from her long first-over trip. 

As they turned for home, Hey Hey Mama held a two-length advantage that would soon dwindle as No Foolin April closed in from the outside, but Hey Hey Mama held strong and won by a length in 1:50.3. No Fooling April finished second but was disqualified for interference at the quarter, thus Goo Goo Won (Austin Hanners) was elevated to second and Foxy Hill (David Miller) was moved up to third.

Hey Hey Mama, a six-year-old mare by Downbytheseaside out of Rolluptherim, earned her 23rd lifetime win, bringing her career total earnings over $650,000. A 10-time starter this year, she previously won Open events on Feb. 19 and Jan. 15. 

Sent postward as the 5-2 favourite, she paid $7.40 to win.

Hey Hey Mama is owned by trainer Virgil Morgan Jr., along with Odds On Racing of Boca Raton, Florida.

The victory completed a Thursday training double for Morgan, who also sent out the debuting three-year-old pacing filly Tin Roof Rusted, who won a $18,056 maiden race by a nose in 1:54.4.

Drivers Luke Hanners and Tyler Smith each had three wins on the 14-race card.

After 13 weeks at Miami Valley, David Miller (123) has started to tighten his grip on the lead of the drivers standings with a 12-win advantage over Chris Page (111). Luke Hanners (92) sits in third while Brett Miller (90) and Tyler Smith (66) round out the top five.

On the training side, Ron Burke (55) continues to lead the way by 10 wins over Virgil Morgan Jr. (45). Heather France (42) sits in third while Steve Carter (32) and Mike Hitchcock (23) round out the top five.

A reminder to racing fans that there is no racing on Sunday this week to allow everyone to celebrate Easter with their families. Racing will return to the five-eighths-mile oval of Miami Valley on Monday with a post time of 4 p.m.

(With files from Miami Valley Raceway)