Miami Valley Raceway seems to be a course for the horse in the case of Sweet Mr Pinetucky.
The seven-year-old homebred son of Pinetucky prevailed in the $22,500 Open Trot on Tuesday (Feb. 23) in 1:53.4, just one-fifth of a second off his career mark taken over the same southwest Ohio five-eighths mile oval just under a year ago. With the score, the winner increased his lifetime win total to 27 while increasing his earnings to $305,909 for owners Lester and Floyd Raber.
Driver Trace Tetrick hustled Sweet Mr Pinetucky to the early lead before yielding to last week’s winner Workinitonbroadway near the :27.4 first quarter. With a pocket ride through middle splits of :57.4 and 1:25.3, the winner trotted willingly through the stretch once shown some daylight. Workinitonbroadway held for second with Milfords Z Tam benefitting from a ground-saving trip to finish third.
A pair of first leg divisions of the Ray Paver Sr. Memorial series for non-winners of four or $40,000 trotters were also contested. The quickest heat went to Miss Smead in a lifetime best 1:55.3, beating Deswanslittlelorie and Swan Fashion.
Coconut Kate won in the other division, topping Susie D and Just For Us in 1:56.2. Although the nominees in this series are evenly split by sex, trotting mares swept the first five spots in one division and the top three in the other.
Miami Valley will present a special make-up program on Wednesday (Feb. 23) with a 2:05 p.m. (EST) post time. Due to a two-day carryover approaching $4,000 in the track’s Pick-5 wager, the Wednesday pool will be guaranteed at $10,000 in conjunction with the U.S. Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Platform. Due to an abbreviated 10-race program, the Pick 5 will be comprised of Races 6 through 10 with an approximate start at 3:40 p.m. (EST).
(Miami Valley Raceway)