Little Rocket held off the entire field in the stretch and picked up his 81st career victory by taking the $49,315 Horses and Geldings Open Handicap Pace at Miami Valley Raceway on Sunday, Feb. 15.
David Miller and Little Rocket Man initially floated out from post three, then pressed on to take over from Cadillac Bayama and Chris Page at the quarter in :26.3. Little Rocket Man continued to show the way as Alta Revelry N (Trevor Smith) pulled from third and advanced first-over through the half in :55. As they headed down the backside, Alta Revelry N showed his straight-line speed as he pulled ahead by a length approaching three quarters in 1:22.2, but he couldn't clear and had some trouble navigating the final turn.
Little Rocket Man reeled him back in to draw even while Humble A (Trace Tetrick) flipped three-wide to challenge the leaders as they swung for home. Little Rocket Man had retaken the advantage at the top of the lane but was now under attack from all angles as the entire field closed in. Cadillac Bayama presented the biggest threat up the pylons, but Little Rocket Man hung on by a nose in a four-horse photo in 1:51.4. Alta Revelry N finished third, beaten by a neck. The entire field was covered by 1-1/2 lengths at the line.
Little Rocket Man recorded his 111th top-three finish in 147 lifetime starts, and he has now earned $2,296,031. The 10-year-old son of Rockin Image-Gt Miss Royal shows no signs of slowing down off a 2025 campaign in which he won 11 times in 23 starts and amassed $348,484 in earnings. Ken Rucker trains the gelding for Russell Beeman and Jack Freeman. The win price was $4.40.
Rucker bagged his second tally on the card, as he also won with Howard Hughes N in the second race.
Jeremy Smith led all drivers with a hat trick, while Trace Tetrick had a driving double. Intense, thick fog quickly rolled over the track before the 13th race, forcing the cancellation of the last two dashes. Visibility was greatly reduced, and track officials deemed it unsafe to continue.
Racing action returns to Miami Valley on Monday with first post at 4 p.m.
(With files from Miami Valley Raceway)