Hey Hey Mama capped off a training triple for Virgil Morgan Jr. as she ended No Foolin April's four-race win streak in the $50,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace on Thursday, Jan. 15 at Miami Valley Raceway.
Sent off as the 4-1 third choice, Hey Hey Mama left sharply from post seven for Luke Hanners and cleared to the front before letting favourite No Foolin April (Brett Miller) go at the quarter in :27. Once the dust settled, Hey Hey Mama was right back out to take the lead and control the pace to a half in :56.2. Nearing the midway mark, the outer flow got underway from sixth as Beautiful Seaside (Trevor Smith) looked to flush some cover, but none was found, and she was forced to continue the first-over charge from a long way back.
Beautiful Seaside closed to within a half-length of the pacesetter just past three-quarters in 1:24.2, but Hey Hey Mama slipped away from the field by two lengths on the final turn as the combination of a tiring Beautiful Seaside and a loose pocket-riding No Foolin April stalled the field. The second-over Louisville Gb (David Miller) flipped out from behind cover to try and chase down Hey Hey Mama, but the head start from the turn proved to be too much to overcome as Hey Hey Mama cruised home in 1:52.2. Louisville Gb was two lengths back in second while No Foolin April finished third.
The win for Hey Hey Mama was her 21st in 73 career starts. Morgan shares ownership in the six-year-old daughter of Downbytheseaside-Rolluptherim with Odds On Racing. The winner returned $10.
The victory handed Morgan his third picture of the 14-race card. He also won with Trick Of The Light ($3.80) and Sarasota Hanover ($17.80) and took sole possession of the early lead in the trainers' standings over Ron Burke. Morgan has eight wins in 28 starts thus far in 2026 for a 28.6 per cent clip.
All three of his winners were piloted by Luke Hanners, who also scored with the Jay Hochstetler-trained General Grant ($14.80) for a grand slam.
Racing action at Miami Valley will return at 4 p.m. on Sunday with a carryover of $3,895 into the early Pick-4, beginning in the fifth race.
(With files from Miami Valley)