Cinderlane Cruiser, Bet On Sunshine and Scares Me headlined the Monday, April 13 card at Miami Valley Raceway which featured a trio of $30,555 conditioned claiming classes on the pace.

The first of the three feature winners was 19-1 longshot Cinderlane Cruiser and driver Randy Tharps, who got things going early leaving from post seven and settling in the pocket behind 3-2 favourite Victory Joe (Tyler Smith) past a speedy opening quarter of :26.4. As the field settled in single file, Sinatra Hanover (Luke Hanners) moved first-up closing in on the half in :55.4. Turning up the backside, Victory Joe continued to lead with Cinderlane Cruiser waiting patiently in the pocket as Sinatra Hanover closed up slowly on the outside, drawing even with Cinderlane Cruiser. They passed three-quarters in 1:23.2, and around the final turn Sinatra Hanover stalled and lost ground, allowing Cinderlane Cruise to pop the pocket at the top of the stretch and power by Victory Joe to win by length in 1:51.4, a two-second drop on his lifetime mark. Victory Joe held for second while Dream Bid (Chris Page) closed for third.

The win was the second of the year in 11 starts for Cinderlane Cruiser, a five-year-old Yankee Cruiser-Dreamlikeme Ivy gelding trained and owned by Jeanette Conrad. A career winner of 26 races, he took his new lifetime mark in his 122nd start and rewarded his backers with a $41.80 win payout.

In the next top event co-featured on the card, 2-1 favourite Bet On Sunshine and Tyler Smith drifted off the rail and landed in third behind the Sky Dog (Luke Hanners) and Johnny Smash (Brett Miller) past an opening quarter of :27.4. As they went past the tote board for the first time, Bet On Sunshine was flushed out first-over and began to close in on the leaders as they passed the half in a leisurely :57. Sky Dog continued to show the way as Bet On Sunshine closed up quickly then pushed a quarter-length in front as they passed three-quarters in 1:24. Around the final turn, Sky Dog battled back as Bet On Sunshine had a little trouble navigating the turn and the two were nose to nose entering into the stretch. Back in a straight line, Bet On Sunshine was able to open by a couple lengths and fend off a hard-charging Rose Run Zizi (Kayne Kauffman) to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.3. Dune Buggy (Austin Hanners) rounded out the trifecta.

For the Bet On Sunshine, the win was his second of the year in six outings. Trainer Heather France owns the five-year-old Betting Line-Drag N Sand gelding with Sara Potts of Grant Park, Illinois.

In the third division of the featured class, 3-2 favourite Scares Me and David Miller tucked in line third off the wings, but quickly pulled and moved to the front before the dust had even settled on the two outside leavers, Interstatedaydream (Chris Page) and Dont Tell Rosa (Cameron McCown). Interstatedaydream led them past the quarter in :26.3, but Scares Me took over shortly after and led the field single file past the stands for the first time. As they neared the half, Rockinpoppin (Trace Tetrick) pulled first-over from sixth dragging along Draw Off (Pat Melloy Jr.). The half came and went in :55.3 with Scares Me getting a nice breather. Down the backside, Scares Me continued to show the way and, as they passed three-quarters in 1:23.2, Rockinpoppin closed to within a length on the outside with Interstatedaydream riding along in the pocket. As they exited the final turn and headed for home, Scares Me held tight to the rail and Rockinpoppin started to tire. Interstatedaydream had lots a of pace but nowhere to go and wasn't able to shake loose until deep stretch while Scares Me held for the win in 1:51.4 by three-quarters of a length as Draw Off closed for second. Interstatedaydream got up for third.

Scares Me notched his second win in a row, sixth of the year in a dozen starts and fastest of his career. Trained by Steve Carter since late March, the four-year-old gelding by Fear The Dragon out of Dominican Hanover is owned by Caldwell Mamie Racing of Bellaire, Ohio.

David Miller led everyone with a grand slam on the 14-race card while Chris Page and Trace Tetrick each had a driving double. Kayne Kauffman had the driver/trainer double while Roy Murphy also had a training double.

Racing returns on Tuesday at Miami Valley with a post time of 4 p.m. 

(With files from Miami Valley Raceway)